No description available.

Airborne pathogenic bacteria can present a significant public health risk. Pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes can colonize numerous surfaces as well, through direct and indirect cross contamination. The physical environment can also affect the transmission and viability of Listeria (distance from the source, temperature, humidity, air flow). The purpose of this work was to explore the ability of Listeria innocua (a surrogate for L. monocytogenes) to contaminate a surface after it has become aerosolized in a bioaerosol chamber and a walk-in cooler. L. innocua was nebulized into a 154 L biosafety chamber (~5 log CFU in 1 mL) at two relative humidity (RH) levels (83% and 65%). Oxford Listeria agar plates, stainless steel coupons and polyethylene (HDPE) coupons in the chamber were exposed to the aerosolized bacteria for 5, 10, 20 or 40 minutes. Also, at these times, air samples (100 L) were collected on to gelatin filters which were transferred to Oxford agar plates. In the second part of the research, L. innocua was nebulized into an 11 m3 walk-in cooler where RH ranged from ~29-37%. Aerosolized bacteria were collected on to Oxford agar plates for 10 min intervals and with 50 or 100 L air samples. Recovery of L. innocua from steel, plastic and agar was significantly higher at 83% RH (2.7 cells/cm2) compared to 65% RH (0.45 cells/cm2). Mean cell recovery from air samples (gelatin filters) was significantly higher (p<0.05) when collected 5 or 10 minutes after nebulization at 83% humidity (mean 2.2 CFU/L) compared to collection after 20 or 40 minutes or compared to all times under 65% humidity (mean 0.4 CFU/L). Recovery from HDPE coupons (1.21 CFU/cm2) was 2.5 X recovery from Oxford agar (0.49 CFU/cm2). In the walk-in cooler, total estimated mean recovery from Oxford media at 10 min after nebulizing was 0.48%, but only 0.04% for samples collected after 60 minutes. The recovery of L. innocua from air samples after 60 min was one-fourth of the number recovered 5 min after nebulizing. No significant difference in recovery was found between plates at different distances (2 – 2.5 m) from the nebulizer in the walk-in cooler. Understanding the survival of aerosolized Listeria and how it can colonize over time on a food contact surface will enhance our efforts to prevent transmission on a small and large scale. The food industry will be able to implement better safety measures to prevent contamination by Listeria species. / Ph. D. / Airborne pathogenic bacteria, including Listeria monocytogenes, can present a significant public health risk. Pathogenic bacteria can colonize numerous surfaces as well through direct and indirect cross contamination. The physical environment can also affect the transmission and viability of Listeria (distance from the source, temperature, humidity). The purpose of this work was to explore the ability of Listeria innocua to contaminate a surface after it has become aerosolized in a bioaerosol chamber and a walk-in cooler. Environmental factors of distance from the source, temperature, and relative humidity were explored. L. innocua was nebulized into a 154 L biosafety chamber (~5 log CFU in 1 ml) at two relative humidity (RH) levels (83% and 65%). Oxford Listeria agar plates, stainless steel coupons and polyethylene (HDPE) coupons in the chamber were exposed to the aerosolized bacteria for 5, 10, 20 or 40 minutes. Also, at these times, air samples (100 L) were collected on to gelatin filters which were transferred to Oxford agar plates. In the second part of the research, L. innocua was nebulized into an 11 m³ walk-in cooler where RH ranged from ~29-37%. Aerosolized bacteria were collected with 50 or 100 L air samples. And, Oxford media was placed on the cooler floor in layers (attached to poster boards) at various locations for surface analysis. The three surface samples yielded a greater mean recovery of 2.7 cells/cm² at 83% humidity compared to 0.45 cells/cm² at 65% humidity. Mean cell recovery from air samples (gelatin filters) was significantly higher (p<0.05) when collected 5 or 10 minutes after nebulization at 83% humidity (mean 2.2 CFU/L) compared to collection after 20 or 40 minutes or compared to all times under 65% humidity (mean 0.4 CFU/L). Recovery from HDPE coupons (1.21 CFU/cm² ) was 2.5 X recovery from Oxford agar (0.49 CFU/cm² ). In the walk-in cooler, total estimated mean recovery from the Oxford media at 10 min after nebulizing the Listeria innocua was 0.48%, but only 0.04% for samples collected after 60 minutes. The recovery of L. innocua from air samples after 60 min was one-fourth of the number recovered 5 min after nebulizing. Understanding the survival of aerosolized Listeria and how it can colonize over time on a food contact surface will enhance our efforts to prevent transmission on a small and large scale. The food industry will be able to implement better safety measures to prevent contamination by Listeria species.

No / This study investigates the influence of length scale effects (micro- and macro-injection molded parts) and mold temperature on the epitaxial growth and morphological characteristics in injection-molded bars of isotactic polypropylene (iPP)/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blends. After preparing the blends with an iPP content of 70 wt% via melt extrusion, the injection-molded bars were formed using both micro and conventional injection molding. Samples were subsequently prepared from the moulded components to allow investigation of the internal morphology using wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and polarized light microscopy (PLM). The results indicated that the matching of micro scale and appropriate mold temperature was most favorable for epitaxial crystallization. The micro-parts had a large fraction of shear layer compared with macro-parts. The SEM observations showed that the shear layer of the former consisted of a highly oriented shish-kebab structure. Moreover, the effects of different methods of injection molding on the morphological characteristics of the micro-parts and macro-parts in different layers were elucidated in detail using PLM and SEM.

In today’s packaging industry HDPE is widely used and correct understanding of itsproperties and how to model them is of vital importance. HDPE is a semi-crystallinepolymer with a known strain rate dependence, that is a higher yield and lower strainto failure at higher strain rates. HDPE does also exhibit the phenomena of cold-drawing, together with other polymers. Cold-drawing is where after the specimenhas necked, the necking stabilizes and starts to pull material above and below intothe neck, effectively elongating the neck while maintaining its width. The objective of the study is to look at the local strain rates as the specimen necksand if a simple Abaqus model can capture those effects. The effect of strain rate onthe shape of the neck was also studied. The work was to test HDPE in uniaxial tension with different strain rates (∼10-3 s-1to ∼10-1 s-1) and measure the local strain rates with 2D-DIC. A decent amount oftime was used to make sure the camera setup gave the best quality possible for theequipment available. The videos produced was used for the DIC analysis as well asfor the image analysis to measure the width of the neck. After the tests a calibrationscheme was used to create a material model that matched the force-displacementfrom the physical 100 mm/min test data. Studying the force displacement the strain rate effects noted in previous researchare present. The results from the DIC show a very high local strain rate as the spec-imen necks, between 11-65 times higher than the global (grip-to-grip) strain rate.From the measurement of the width there are some rate effects as well. The slowerspeeds (5 and 10 mm/min) shows a continually reducing width while the 50 and 100mm/min shows a more stable neck and the 500 mm/min test does not have any sig-nificant neck propagation. The simple elastic-plastic model show similar local strainrates as the experiment however does show a noticeable thinner neck. / I dagens förpackningsindustri används HDPE ofta och korrekt förståelse av dess egenskaper och hur man modellerar dem är av avgörande betydelse. HDPE är ensemikristallin polymer med ett känt töjningshastighetsberoende, det vill säga en hö-gre sträckgräns och lägre töjning till brott vid högre töjningshastigheter. HDPEuppvisar också fenomenet kalldragning, tillsammans med andra polymerer. Kall-dragning är det fenomen som uppstår efter att provet har påbörjat midjebilding ochmaterial börjar dras in i midjan, vilket leder till en förlängd midja. Syftet med studien var att titta på de lokala töjningshastigheterna under midje-bildning och om en enkel Abaqus-modell kan fånga dessa effekter. Effekten av töjn-ingshastighet på midjan form studerades också. Arbetet började att testa HDPE i enaxlig spänning med olika töjningshastigheter(∼10-3 s-1 till ∼10-1 s-1) och mäta de lokala töjningshastigheterna med 2D-DIC. Endel tid lades ner på att se till att kamerauppsättningen gav högsta möjliga kvaliteti förhållande till den utrustning som användes. Filmen från testerna användes bådeför DIC och en bildanalys för att mäta bredden på midjan. Efter testerna använ-des ett kalibreringsschema för att skapa en materialmodell för att matcha kraft-förskjutningskurvan från det fysiska 100 mm/min-testet. Genom att studera kraft-förskjutning är effekterna av töjningshastigheten som noter-ats i tidigare forskning närvarande. Resultaten från DIC visar en mycket hög lokaltöjningshastighet under midjebildning, mellan 11-65 gånger högre än den globala(grepp-till-grepp) töjningshastigheten. Från mätningen av bredden finns det ocksåvissa hastighetseffekter. De lägre hastigheterna (5 och 10 mm/min) visar en kon-tinuerligt minskande bredd, 50 och 100 mm/min visar en stabilare midja och 500mm/min-testet har ingen signifikant kalldragning. Den enkla elasto-plastmodellenvisar liknande lokala töjningshastigheter som experimentet men de visar en märk-bart tunnare midja.

Strain-hardening cement-based composites (SHCC) are a special class of fiber-reinforced concrete which develop multiple, fine cracks when subjected to increasing tensile loading, reaching strain capacities of up to several percent. The tensile behavior of SHCC is a result of a purposeful material design accounting for the mechanical and physical properties of the cementitious matrix, of the reinforcing fibers and of their interaction. The exceptionally high energy dissipation through inelastic deformations before reaching tensile strength makes SHCC suitable for manufacturing or strengthening of structural elements which may be subjected to impact loading. However, the tensile behavior of SHCC is highly strain rate dependent, both in terms of tensile strength and strain capacity. The different strain rate sensitivities of the constitutive phases of SHCC (matrix, fiber and interfacial bond) lead to disproportionate dynamic alteration of their mechanical properties under increasing strain rates and, consequently, to an impairment of the micromechanical balance necessary for strain-hardening and multiple cracking. Thus, high energy dissipation under impact loading can only be ensured through a targeted material design. This work presents a series of mechanical experiments at different strain rates and different scales of investigation with the goal of developing a qualitative and quantitative basis for formulating material design recommendations for impact resistant SHCC. Three different types of SHCC were investigated, consisting of two types of polymer fibers (polyvinyl-alcohol and high-density polyethylene) and cementitious matrices (normal-strength and high-strength). Uniaxial tension experiments were performed on SHCC specimens and on non-reinforced matrix specimens with different testing setups at strain rates ranging from 10-4 to 150 s-1. Besides the measured mechanical properties, special attention was paid to the crack patterns and the condition of fracture surfaces. Additionally, micro-scale investigations were performed to quantify the strain rate dependent changes in the mechanical behavior of individual component phases, i.e., matrix, fibers and fiber-matrix bond. The results obtained from the micromechanical investigations were used in an analytical model for crack bridging. The model links the micromechanical parameters and their strain rate sensitivities to the single-crack opening behavior under increasing displacement rates, making it useful for material design purposes. If given an extensive experimental basis for the fracture mechanical properties of the non-reinforced cementitious matrices, the model can be extended for predicting the strain capacity (multiple cracking) of SHCC under different strain rates. / Die hochduktilen Betone (Engl.: Strain-Hardening Cement-based Composites – SHCC) bilden eine besondere Klasse von Faserbetonen, die eine multiple Rissbildung unter zunehmenden Zugspannungen aufweisen, was zu einer sehr hohen Bruchdehnung führt. Das dehnungsverfestigende, hochduktile Zugverhalten der SHCC wird durch eine gezielte Materialentwicklung erreicht, die die mechanischen und physikalischen Eigenschaften der zementgebundenen Matrizen, der Kurzfasern und deren Zusammenwirkung berücksichtigt. Das außergewöhnliche Energieabsorptionsvermögen der SHCC durch plastische Verformungen vor dem Erreichen der Zugfestigkeit qualifiziert diese Verbundwerkstoffe für die Herstellung oder Verstärkung von Bauteilen, die Impaktbeanspruchungen ausgesetzt sein könnten. Jedoch weisen SHCC sowohl bezüglich deren Zugfestigkeit als auch deren Dehnungskapazität ein ausgeprägtes dehnratenabhängiges Verhalten auf. Unter zunehmenden Dehnraten führen die unterschiedlichen Dehnratensensitivitäten der gestaltenden Phasen von SHCC (Matrix, Faser und deren Verbund) zur Beeinträchtigung des mikromechanischen Gleichgewichts, welches für die Dehnungsverfestigung und multiple Rissbildung erforderlich ist. Eine hohe Energiedissipation unter Impaktbeanspruchungen kann deshalb nur durch eine gezielte Materialentwicklung der SHCC hinsichtlich deren Verhaltens unter hohen Dehnraten gewährleistet werden. Die vorliegende Arbeit umfasst eine Reihe von experimentellen Untersuchungen mit verschiedenen Dehnraten und an unterschiedlichen Betrachtungsebenen, mit dem Ziel eine qualitative und quantitative Basis für Empfehlungen zur Materialentwicklung von Impakt-resistenten SHCC zu schaffen. Drei verschiedene SHCC-Zusammensetzungen wurden untersucht. Die Referenz-Zusammensetzung aus einer normalfesten zementgebundenen Matrix und Polyvinyl-Alkohol-Kurzfasern wurde mit zwei unterschiedlichen SHCC verglichen (hochfest und normalfest), die mit Kurzfasern aus hochdichtem Polyethylen bewehrt wurden. Einaxiale Zugversuche wurden an SHCC-Proben und unbewehrten Matrix-Proben mit verschiedenen Prüfvorrichtungen bei Dehnraten von 10-4 bis 150 s-1 durchgeführt. Zusätzlich zu den gemessenen mechanischen Eigenschaften wurden die Rissbildung und die Bruchflächen detailliert untersucht. Darüber hinaus wurden mikromechanische Untersuchungen durchgeführt, um die Dehnratensensitivität der einzelnen Phasen, d.h. Matrix, Faser und deren Verbund zu beschreiben. Die aus den mikromechanischen Untersuchungen erzielten Ergebnisse wurden als Eingangswerte in einem analytischen Einzelriss-Modell verwendet. Das entwickelte Modell verbindet die mikromechanischen Parameter und deren Dehnratenabhängigkeit mit dem Rissöffnungsverhalten von SHCC bei zunehmenden Verschiebungsraten. Das macht es vorteilhaft für Materialentwicklungszwecke. Das Modell kann für die Vorhersage der Dehnungskapazität von SHCC bei diversen Dehnraten weiterentwickelt werden, wenn eine umfassende experimentelle Basis für die bruchmechanischen Eigenschaften der Matrizen vorliegt.

Global environmental change is a concern in society, and companies sees the importance of more environmentally- friendly practices. Consequently, the need for environmental information is becoming more and more important. A common tool for strategic environmental decisions is life cycle analysis (LCA), which is recognized for its robustness in assessing the environmental performance of products systems. This study reports on a streamlined consequential life cycle analysis (CLCA) commissioned by the organisation Ragnsells, and to analyse the strenghts, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) for applying this approach to similar projects. The initial LCA is conducted on FAIR plastic recycling, an innovation provided by Ragnsells AB. The geographical scope of the project is delimited to Denmark in 2022. Moreover, as CLCA has been applied, the used allocation has been the system expansion method. Data have been collected from direct contact with stakeholders in Denmark, literature and CLCA databases. The results of the study indicate that demanding FAIR plastic recycling is favourable from a climate change perspective, but detrimental in terms of e.g. land change. Furthermore, the lack of available data limits the study and shows need of further research. LCA applied within the organisation can increase awareness, simplify decision-making and provide comprehensive environmental information, despite the significant time and resources needed. Furthermore, increasing research within the field presents opportunities to improve quality aspects that can lead to better environmental performance and enhances collaboration and communication. However, the need for environmental information is threatened by misleading environmental claims, and could be minimized by increasing knowledge about underlying assumptions and uncertainties in LCA studies. / Miljöförändringen erkänns alltmer som strategiskt viktigt i samhället och allt fler företag ser vikten av att ställa om till mer miljövänliga tekniker. Följaktligen ökar efterfrågan på miljöinformation snabbt. Ett vanligt verktyg för strategiska miljöbeslut är livscykelanalys (LCA), som används för att bedöma miljöprestanda hos produkter och tjänster. Denna rapport syftar till att göra en initial LCA inom organisationen Ragnsells, och att analysera styrkor, svagheter, möjligheter och hot (SWOT-analys) för att tillämpa liknande projekt. Den initiala studien är gjord på FAIR plaståtervinning, en innovation från Ragnsells AB. Projektets geografiska omfattning är avgränsad till Danmark och genomförs från tidpunkten 2022. Eftersom en konsekvens-LCA (cLCA) har tillämpats har allokeringsmetoden systemexpansion använts. Data har samlats in från direkt från kontakt med intressenter i Danmark, litteratur och CLCA-databaser. Resultaten från studien visar att krav på FAIR- plast är fördelaktigt ur ett klimatförändringsperspektiv. Däremot rekommenderas insatser för att analysera och vid behov minska negativa effekter. Dessutom tyder bristen på tillgängliga data på behovet av ytterligare analyser. Analysen visar att LCA inom organisationen kan öka allmänhetens medvetenhet, förenkla beslutsfattande och ge omfattande miljöinformation. Samtigit finns svagheter med den tid och de resurser som krävs för att genomföra en LCA. Vidare visar ökande forskning inom området möjligheter till att förbättra kvalitetsaspekter för bättre miljöprestanda samt förbättrad samverkan och kommunikation. Behovet av miljöinformation hotas dock av vilseledande miljöpåståenden, och skulle kunna minimeras genom att öka kunskapen om underliggande antaganden och osäkerheter inom LCA.

No description available.

Strain-hardening cement-based composites (SHCC) are a special class of fiber-reinforced concrete which develop multiple, fine cracks when subjected to increasing tensile loading, reaching strain capacities of up to several percent. The tensile behavior of SHCC is a result of a purposeful material design accounting for the mechanical and physical properties of the cementitious matrix, of the reinforcing fibers and of their interaction. The exceptionally high energy dissipation through inelastic deformations before reaching tensile strength makes SHCC suitable for manufacturing or strengthening of structural elements which may be subjected to impact loading. However, the tensile behavior of SHCC is highly strain rate dependent, both in terms of tensile strength and strain capacity. The different strain rate sensitivities of the constitutive phases of SHCC (matrix, fiber and interfacial bond) lead to disproportionate dynamic alteration of their mechanical properties under increasing strain rates and, consequently, to an impairment of the micromechanical balance necessary for strain-hardening and multiple cracking. Thus, high energy dissipation under impact loading can only be ensured through a targeted material design. This work presents a series of mechanical experiments at different strain rates and different scales of investigation with the goal of developing a qualitative and quantitative basis for formulating material design recommendations for impact resistant SHCC. Three different types of SHCC were investigated, consisting of two types of polymer fibers (polyvinyl-alcohol and high-density polyethylene) and cementitious matrices (normal-strength and high-strength). Uniaxial tension experiments were performed on SHCC specimens and on non-reinforced matrix specimens with different testing setups at strain rates ranging from 10-4 to 150 s-1. Besides the measured mechanical properties, special attention was paid to the crack patterns and the condition of fracture surfaces. Additionally, micro-scale investigations were performed to quantify the strain rate dependent changes in the mechanical behavior of individual component phases, i.e., matrix, fibers and fiber-matrix bond. The results obtained from the micromechanical investigations were used in an analytical model for crack bridging. The model links the micromechanical parameters and their strain rate sensitivities to the single-crack opening behavior under increasing displacement rates, making it useful for material design purposes. If given an extensive experimental basis for the fracture mechanical properties of the non-reinforced cementitious matrices, the model can be extended for predicting the strain capacity (multiple cracking) of SHCC under different strain rates. / Die hochduktilen Betone (Engl.: Strain-Hardening Cement-based Composites – SHCC) bilden eine besondere Klasse von Faserbetonen, die eine multiple Rissbildung unter zunehmenden Zugspannungen aufweisen, was zu einer sehr hohen Bruchdehnung führt. Das dehnungsverfestigende, hochduktile Zugverhalten der SHCC wird durch eine gezielte Materialentwicklung erreicht, die die mechanischen und physikalischen Eigenschaften der zementgebundenen Matrizen, der Kurzfasern und deren Zusammenwirkung berücksichtigt. Das außergewöhnliche Energieabsorptionsvermögen der SHCC durch plastische Verformungen vor dem Erreichen der Zugfestigkeit qualifiziert diese Verbundwerkstoffe für die Herstellung oder Verstärkung von Bauteilen, die Impaktbeanspruchungen ausgesetzt sein könnten. Jedoch weisen SHCC sowohl bezüglich deren Zugfestigkeit als auch deren Dehnungskapazität ein ausgeprägtes dehnratenabhängiges Verhalten auf. Unter zunehmenden Dehnraten führen die unterschiedlichen Dehnratensensitivitäten der gestaltenden Phasen von SHCC (Matrix, Faser und deren Verbund) zur Beeinträchtigung des mikromechanischen Gleichgewichts, welches für die Dehnungsverfestigung und multiple Rissbildung erforderlich ist. Eine hohe Energiedissipation unter Impaktbeanspruchungen kann deshalb nur durch eine gezielte Materialentwicklung der SHCC hinsichtlich deren Verhaltens unter hohen Dehnraten gewährleistet werden. Die vorliegende Arbeit umfasst eine Reihe von experimentellen Untersuchungen mit verschiedenen Dehnraten und an unterschiedlichen Betrachtungsebenen, mit dem Ziel eine qualitative und quantitative Basis für Empfehlungen zur Materialentwicklung von Impakt-resistenten SHCC zu schaffen. Drei verschiedene SHCC-Zusammensetzungen wurden untersucht. Die Referenz-Zusammensetzung aus einer normalfesten zementgebundenen Matrix und Polyvinyl-Alkohol-Kurzfasern wurde mit zwei unterschiedlichen SHCC verglichen (hochfest und normalfest), die mit Kurzfasern aus hochdichtem Polyethylen bewehrt wurden. Einaxiale Zugversuche wurden an SHCC-Proben und unbewehrten Matrix-Proben mit verschiedenen Prüfvorrichtungen bei Dehnraten von 10-4 bis 150 s-1 durchgeführt. Zusätzlich zu den gemessenen mechanischen Eigenschaften wurden die Rissbildung und die Bruchflächen detailliert untersucht. Darüber hinaus wurden mikromechanische Untersuchungen durchgeführt, um die Dehnratensensitivität der einzelnen Phasen, d.h. Matrix, Faser und deren Verbund zu beschreiben. Die aus den mikromechanischen Untersuchungen erzielten Ergebnisse wurden als Eingangswerte in einem analytischen Einzelriss-Modell verwendet. Das entwickelte Modell verbindet die mikromechanischen Parameter und deren Dehnratenabhängigkeit mit dem Rissöffnungsverhalten von SHCC bei zunehmenden Verschiebungsraten. Das macht es vorteilhaft für Materialentwicklungszwecke. Das Modell kann für die Vorhersage der Dehnungskapazität von SHCC bei diversen Dehnraten weiterentwickelt werden, wenn eine umfassende experimentelle Basis für die bruchmechanischen Eigenschaften der Matrizen vorliegt.

The performance of joints in buried gravity flow pipelines are important since failure of these elements can affect the structural capacity of soil-pipe systems and reduce their longevity. Currently, there are no clear guidelines to design joints for gravity flow pipelines and therefore their design is based on semi-empirical methods. It is necessary to identify and quantify the demands that act across joints when subjected to service loading conditions to establish adequate design guidelines. Such demands will vary depending on the type of joint, type of pipe, burial and loading conditions. Therefore work is needed to investigate the influence of these conditions on the performance of joints. Full-scale laboratory tests have been performed on rigid (reinforced concrete) and flexible (corrugated steel and thermoplastic) pipelines to investigate the response of their joints when buried and subjected to surface loading. The joints investigated are either ‘moment-release’ joints (those that accommodate rotation and reduce the longitudinal bending moments close to zero), or ‘moment-transfer’ joints (those that limit rotation and transfer longitudinal bending moments from one pipe to the next). These experiments evaluate the influence of different cover depths, loading locations, and installation conditions on the response of the joints. Additionally, the performance of each joint when the pipeline was buried with shallow cover and subjected to surface loads up to and beyond fully factored loads were also investigated. Furthermore, three-dimensional finite element analyses of a gasketed bell and spigot joint in a buried reinforced concrete pipeline subjected to surface loading have been developed employing material properties and joint rotational characteristics experimentally obtained. The data obtained from the experimental and computational studies are used to evaluate joint performance and to identify key demands (shear force and rotation or moment) acting across them. In addition, the different patterns of vertical displacement along rigid and flexible pipes were established. It was found that the stiffness of the pipeline, the geometry of the joint, the loading and burial conditions influence the response (and therefore the demands) of the joints examined. Finally, recommendations are provided regarding development of structural design methods for these pipeline and joint systems. / Thesis (Ph.D, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-12-29 12:47:31.826

More and more, advanced polymer and composite materials are being applied in engineering situations where a high resistance to loading at high rates of strain, such as by impact or blast deformation, are a vital requirement. Specific examples exist in the fields of defence and sport research and development for personal, and in the case of the former, vehicular, protection. There are obvious advantages to the use of polymer materials for these applications in augmenting the more widely used metals and ceramics, most notably the evident reduction in weight, and it is believed that with suitable nano-reinforcement these materials may exhibit improved combat survivability. The current study concerns the effect that nano-reinforcements in the form of Carbon Black, Titanium Dioxide, Exfoliated Hectorite Nanoclay and Carbon Nanotubes; have upon the high strain rate mechanical properties of structural variants of Polyethylene (Linear Low Density Polyethylene, LLDPE; High Density Polyethylene, HDPE; Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene, UHMWPE) and blends of UHMWPE and HDPE. The testing samples were manufactured using a novel process developed in the Loughborough University Materials Department, which has produced well-dispersed specimens. The formed nanocomposite samples were studied using an in-house four-bar Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) system for high strain rate performance, instrumented dropweight for intermediate strain rates and a conventional commercial Hounsfield H50KM universal testing machine for quasi-static strain rate compressive tests. The experimental results recorded for un-reinforced materials are used as a reference to allow comparative analysis of any effect the nano-reinforcements or the blending process have upon the structure, performance and properties of the composite material. From the mechanical testing, it was seen that the stress-strain behaviour of Polyethylene is highly strain-rate-dependent, as plots of the average representative yield stress as a function of strain rate show a bilinear relationship when plotted on a logarithmic strain rate scale, with the gradient of the curve rising sharply at around 103s-1. Concerning the addition of the nanofiller materials, it was seen that there was an increase in the flow and yield stresses and the energy absorption characteristics of the resulting composite with the magnitude dependent upon whether it was a pure or blended polymer that was reinforced. Of the aforementioned fillers it was seen that the addition of Carbon Nanotubes in the small concentrations studied resulted in the greatest increase in properties compared to the pure polymers, closely followed by the Carbon Black fillers. Also of note, the un-reinforced blended samples showed significant increases in flow stress, yield stress and energy absorption when compared to the constituent UHMWPE and HDPE polymers. Additionally, a complete set of Differential Scanning Calorimetry and density measurements were made before testing to assess any changes in the properties after reinforcement or blending, and to help in the interpretation of the results from the different mechanical tests.