Chip and scrub seal treatments are common pavement preservation practices that use asphalt emulsions. Their performance has been studied for several years, yet many questions remain. The primary thesis objective was to study near surface behaviors of flexible pavements that are candidates for seal treatments. This study investigated the ability of the bending beam rheometer (BBR) to detect pavement surface changes due to the application of asphalt emulsion. Estimated stiffness and m-value data was recorded for three asphalt concrete mixtures using mixture beams approximately 120 mm long by 12 mm wide by 7.7 mm thick sawn from the surface of asphalt specimens. One mixture was plant mixed and laboratory compacted, while the other two were field-aged mixtures. This study gauges effect of treating specimens with emulsions commonly used in Mississippi in conditioned and unconditioned states.

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This work is concerned with determining empirical parameters in stress and fiber orientation models required to accurately simulate the fiber orientation in injection molded composites. An independent approach aims to obtain the material parameters using a sliding plate rheometer to measure the rheology of fiber suspensions at increased fiber lengths subjected to transient shear flow. Fiber orientation was measured in conjunction with shear stress to determine the relationship between stress and fiber orientation. Using a compression molding sample preparation procedure, the transient shear stress response was measured for glass and carbon fiber suspensions up to a number average fiber aspect ratio (length/diameter) of 100. Increases in concentration or fiber aspect ratio caused the magnitude of the stress response to increase by as much as an order of magnitude when compared to the suspending matrix. The degree of shear thinning at low shear rates also increased with increases in aspect ratio and concentration. The compression molding sample preparation procedure provided poor control of the initial fiber orientation which led to the investigation of samples subjected to flow reversal and samples generated through injection molding. The samples prepared through injection molding provided improved repeatability in the measured shear stress response and fiber orientation evolution during the startup of flow compared to compression molded samples and samples subjected to flow reversal. From repeatable stress and orientation evolution data, models for stress and fiber orientation were assessed independently. Current theories for stress were unable to reflect the overshoot in the measured stress response and could at best capture the steady state. The transient behavior of the fiber orientation models were found to be highly dependent on the initial fiber orientation. The repeatable orientation data obtained from the injection molding sample preparation procedure provided material parameters in the strain reduction factor and reduced strain closure models. The injection molded samples provided evolution data from different initial fiber orientations to provide further scrutiny or validation of the material parameters. Orientation model parameters that provided reasonable agreement to multiple sets of fiber evolution data in simple shear flow should allow for a better assessment of the orientation models in complex flow simulations. / Ph. D.

Great interest exists in adding long fibers into polymeric fluids due to the increase in properties associated with the composite, as compared to the neat resin. These properties, however, are dependent on the fiber orientations generated during processing, such as injection molding. In an effort to optimize industrial processing, optimize mold design, and maximize desired properties of the final part, it is highly desirable to predict long fiber orientation as a function of processing conditions. The purpose of this research is to use rheology as a fundamental means of understanding the transient orientation behavior of concentrated long glass (> 1mm) fiber suspensions. Specifically, this research explores the method of using rheology as a means of obtaining stress tensor and orientation model parameters needed to accurately predict the transient fiber orientation of long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene, in a well-defined simple shear flow, with the hopes of extending the knowledge gained from these fundamental experiments for the use of simulating processing flows, such as injection molding. Two fiber orientation models were investigated to predict the transient orientation of the long glass fiber systems explored. One model, the Folgar-Tucker model, has been particularly useful for predicting fiber orientation in short glass fiber systems and was used in this paper to assess its performance with long glass fibers. A second orientation model, one that accounts for the semi-flexibility of fibers, was extended to describe non-dilute suspension and coupled with an augmented stress tensor that accounts for fiber bending. Stress tensor and orientation model parameters were determined (in all cases) by best fitting these coupled equations to measured stress data obtained using a sliding plate rheometer. Results showed the semi-flexible orientation model and stress tensor combination, overall, provided improved rheological results as compared to the Folgar-Tucker model when coupled with the stress tensor of Lipscomb (1988). Furthermore, it was found that both stress tensors required empirical modification to accurately fit the measured data. Both orientation models provided encouraging results when predicting the transient fiber orientation in a sliding plate rheometer, for all initial fiber orientations explored. Additionally, both orientation models provided encouraging results when the model parameters, determined from the rheological study, were used for the purpose of predicting fiber orientation in an injection molded center-gated disk. / Ph. D.

A novel on-line capillary rheometer (OLR) was used to examine the shear and extensional characteristics of polyolefin melts during twin screw extrusion (TSE). Comparisons with off-line rheometry were made using a twin-bore capillary rheometer and a modular in-line slit die rheometer (ILR) provided in-line rheometry comparisons. Both capillary rheometers were controlled via PCs running dedicated software, and the extrusion line and ELR were fully instrumented allowing real-time process monitoring to be carried out by IBM compatible PCs via data acquisition hardware and software. The prototype OLR was developed by the re-design of several key features including an instrumented transfer section and capillary die block which facilitated the use of various die geometries. Shear and extensional on-line rheometry of three polyethylenes (linear and branched), and four molecular weight grades of polypropylene were examined, and a direct comparison with off-line capillary rheometry showed a good correlation. The effect of a high loading of filler on two of the polyethylenes was investigated. In-line shear stress and entry pressure measurements showed a reasonable correlation with on-line rheometry. A study of entry flows in the OLR using capillary dies approaching orifice showed non-linearities occurred at very low capillary length to diameter(L:D) ratios, and this was repeatable using off-line rheometry. Predicted zero length entry pressures (Po) were used to estimate apparent extensional viscosity using a number of standard models. Melt instability and capillary wall slip were also investigated using on-line rheometry. Melt pressure and temperature in the twin screw extruder and OLR were monitored at various process conditions to examine the ability of the OLR to condition melt during testing, and the effect of OLR testing on extrusion conditions. Pressure variation in the extruder, OLR and off-line rheometer were compared in order to quantify process noise. The effect of OLR testing on melt rheology and polymer molecular weight were examined using off-line rheometry and gel permeation chromatography(GPC).

A novel on-line capillary rheometer (OLR) was used to examine the shear and extensional characteristics of polyolefin melts during twin screw extrusion (TSE). Comparisons with off-line rheometry were made using a twin-bore capillary rheometer and a modular in-line slit die rheometer (ILR) provided in-line rheometry comparisons. Both capillary rheometers were controlled via PCs running dedicated software, and the extrusion line and ELR were fully instrumented allowing real-time process monitoring to be carried out by IBM compatible PCs via data acquisition hardware and software. The prototype OLR was developed by the re-design of several key features including an instrumented transfer section and capillary die block which facilitated the use of various die geometries. Shear and extensional on-line rheometry of three polyethylenes (linear and branched), and four molecular weight grades of polypropylene were examined, and a direct comparison with off-line capillary rheometry showed a good correlation. The effect of a high loading of filler on two of the polyethylenes was investigated. In-line shear stress and entry pressure measurements showed a reasonable correlation with on-line rheometry. A study of entry flows in the OLR using capillary dies approaching orifice showed non-linearities occurred at very low capillary length to diameter(L:D) ratios, and this was repeatable using off-line rheometry. Predicted zero length entry pressures (Po) were used to estimate apparent extensional viscosity using a number of standard models. Melt instability and capillary wall slip were also investigated using on-line rheometry. Melt pressure and temperature in the twin screw extruder and OLR were monitored at various process conditions to examine the ability of the OLR to condition melt during testing, and the effect of OLR testing on extrusion conditions. Pressure variation in the extruder, OLR and off-line rheometer were compared in order to quantify process noise. The effect of OLR testing on melt rheology and polymer molecular weight were examined using off-line rheometry and gel permeation chromatography(GPC). / Rosand Precision Ltd. and Raychem Ltd.

Master of Science / Department of Grain Science and Industry / Hulya Dogan / Kansas is the top wheat-producing state, providing about 1/5 of the yearly wheat crop in the U.S. Therefore, the quality of wheat grown in Kansas is a primary concern of the milling and baking industry. Quality of wheat flour is measured through analysis of protein, dough rheology, and baked product characteristics. This study characterized four commonly-grown Kansas hard red winter wheat cultivars chosen to span the largest possible range of protein contents and baking qualities. Flour protein content and moisture was determined by NIR, and composition was assessed using SE-HPLC. Dough empirical rheological and mixing characteristics were determined by farinograph and mixograph recording dough mixers. Rheological measurements of fundamental dough properties were performed through strain sweeps, frequency sweeps, temperature sweeps, creep-relaxation, and stress relaxation on a rheometer. All cultivar flours were baked to assess baking quality through evaluation of loaf volume, texture profile analysis (TPA), C-cell, and x-ray microtomography (XMT). Overley and Karl 92 have the two highest protein contents, respectively, and are not significantly different in percent of unextractable polymeric protein (UPP). Generally, cultivars with higher protein and percent UPP (Overley and Karl 92) gave larger loaves, much more expanded air cells, thinner cell walls, greater void fractions, and better mixing properties. Lower TPA firmness was found for Overley, corresponding with its larger XMT fragmentation index, existence of large air cells, and high void fraction. In contrast, 2137 gave the lowest XMT fragmentation index, low void fraction, larger cell wall thicknesses, and a significantly firmer (P< 0.05) crumb structure. Protein content was found to have an inverse relationship with the elastic nature of dough in fundamental rheological measurements since small amplitude measurements generally do not give good correlations to baking quality. Stress relaxation gave the most useful information about flour quality through its relaxation spectra. Flours with high total polymeric protein percentages could be identified through their higher relaxation spectra. Starch gelatinization properties of the flours were different for RVA and rheometer temperature sweeps. All of these tests have helped characterize the four Kansas wheat cultivars chosen for this study.

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have emerged as viable approaches to repairing osteochondral tissue damage, especially with the implementation of biomaterials and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a synthetic and non-biodegradable polymer that has received attention as a tissue engineering scaffold and cartilage replacement due to its inherent viscoelasticity and biocompatibility. This work investigated the use of mechanical cues to trigger mechanotransduction pathways and thereby guide human MSCs towards a desired differentiation lineage. PVA scaffolds with a range of compressive moduli (1 - 600 kPa) were fabricated by varying molecular weight, solution concentration, and freeze-thaw cycles. Mass loss rates and changes in stiffness were not significantly different after 7 days of dynamic compression or static culture in standard MSC culture medium. Short-term dynamic loading of human MSC-seeded PVA scaffolds resulted in an increase in cell viability and collagen production for loaded versus static samples over 7 days of culture. Through a simple dynamic compressive loading sequence MSC viability and matrix protein production may increase on synthetic, bioinert PVA scaffolds. Lastly upstream processing of polymer fabrication and cell culture was conducted in preparation for studies on a custom designed dynamic compressive loading machine for cell-seeded scaffolds.

[pt] Os materiais termoplásticos compósitos, tais como o polipropileno reforçado com fibras de vidro curtas, são usados cada vez mais em diversos setores industriais. O reforço da fibra de vidro é uma forma utilizada para melhorar as propriedades mecânicas dos termoplásticos, devido ao elevado módulo das fibras e à melhor adesão entre as fibras e a matriz polimérica. No entanto, há poucas informações referentes às propriedades desses fluidos na literatura. No presente trabalho, um estudo das propriedades cisalhantes e elongacionais do polipropileno reforçado com fibras de vidros curtas é apresentado. As viscosidades cisalhantes e elongacionais foram obtidas em um reômetro capilar através da medição da queda de pressão na entrada convergente de um capilar axissimétrico. Utilizaram-se duas geometrias diferentes na entrada do capilar, para a obtenção dos dados experimentais: as geometrias semi-hiperbólica convergente e cônica convergente. Neste último, a viscosidade elongacional foi obtida a partir da queda de pressão na entrada, utilizando as análises de Cogswell e Binding. Simulações numéricas foram realizadas com o objetivo de investigar o comportamento do polipropileno em um processo de extrusão. As equações de conservação de massa e quantidade de movimento foram resolvidas utilizando o método dos elementos finitos a partir do programa comercial Polyflow (Ansys). Para modelar o comportamento da mecânico viscoelástico do polipropileno foram utilizados os modelos de Maxwell, Oldroyd-B e Phan-Thien Tanner (PTT), no entanto a comparação entre os resultados numéricos e os experimentais obtidos no reômetro capilar não apresentaram concordância satisfatória. / [en] Composite thermoplastic materials, like glass fiber reforced polypropropylene, are used increasingly in several industries. In particular, glass fiber reinforcement is used to improve the mechanical properties of thermoplastics, due to the high fiber modulous and to the better adesion between the fibers and the polymeric matrix. However, few data of material properties of these fluids are avaiable in the literature. In this work, a study of shear and elongational properties of a commercial short glass fiber reinforced polypropylene is presented. The shear and elongational viscosities were obtained using the pressure drop measured at a capillary rheometer, with axisymmetric converging dies. Two different die geometries were used: semihyperbolically convergent dies and conical convergent dies. In the last case, the elongational viscosity was obtained using the Cogswell and Binding analysis. Numerical simulations were also performed, to investigate the flow field through the extrusion die process, and to evaluate the pressure drop and elongational viscosity. The conservation equations of mass and momentum were solved via the finite element method, using the commercial program POLYFLOW (Ansys). The Maxwell, Oldroyd B and Phan Thien-Tanner (PTT) constitutive equations were used to model the viscoelastic mechanical behavior of Polypropylene, but the comparison between numerical results and experimental data obtained from the capillary rheometer did not show good agreement.