A series of laboratory accelerated immersion tests are used to examine the effects of different chemicals found in municipal solid waste leachate, geomembrane thickness, and incubation temperatures on the degradation of different high density polyethylene geomembranes. It was found that surfactant was the key leachate constituent affecting antioxidant depletion while salts accelerated degradation of the mechanical properties, especially stress crack resistance. Immersed in synthetic leachate, the time to nominal failure at 35oC was predicted to be 62% longer for the 2.5 mm, and 12% longer for the 2.0 mm, than for the 1.5 mm geomembrane tested. The antioxidant depletion in synthetic leachate and air at temperatures > 85oC was consistent with what would be expected from Arrhenius modeling based on data from lower temperatures (≤ 85oC). However, the early depletion rates in water incubation decreased with the increase of the temperature above 100oC. It was also found that at temperatures above 100oC, there was significant change in the polymer morphology that affected the stress crack resistance at early incubation times prior to polymer degradation. Large-scale geosynthetic liner longevity simulators (GLLSs) which simulated field conditions were used to investigate the susceptibility of pre-aged high density polyethylene geomembranes to stress cracking and to evaluate the performance of geomembranes under a 150 mm sand protection layer. A pre-aged geomembrane with a 560 g/m2 geotextile protection layer experienced brittle rupture at local gravel indentations. The time to failure was correlated to the incubation temperatures. The use of a sand protection layer not only delayed antioxidant depletion compared to that with a traditional geotextile protection but also substantially reduced the long-term tensile strains in the geomembrane below the allowable strain limits. / Thesis (Ph.D, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-11-26 12:36:01.538

Este trabalho apresenta resultados de ensaios de fissuramento sob tensão (FST) realizados em geomembranas de polietileno (PE) virgens e degradadas em laboratório. As geomembranas foram degradadas pela exposição à radiação ultravioleta, por envelhecimento térmico em estufa com circulação de ar, e pela compatibilidade química com soda cáustica e com vinhaça. Os resultados destes ensaios demonstram que os processos de degradação a que as geomembranas foram submetidas podem ser considerados catalisadores do fenômeno de FST, pois ocorreram reduções de resistência ao FST da ordem de 50 a 60%, com exceção para a amostra em compatibilidade química com vinhaça, que obteve aumento de 17% na resistência ao FST / This work presents results of stress cracking tests (SC) accomplished in virgin and degraded polyethylene (PE) geomembranes at laboratory. Geomembranes were degraded by exposition to ultraviolet radiation, by thermal aging in oven with circulation of air, and by chemical compatibility with sodium hydroxide and with leachate of alcohol production. The results of these tests demonstrate that the degradation processes of the geomembranes were submitted can be considered catalysts of the phenomenon of SC, because they happened resistance reductions to stress crack resistance of the order from 50 to 60%, with exception for the sample in chemical compatibility with leachate of alcohol production, that had an increase of 17% in the stress crack resistance

Este trabalho apresenta resultados de ensaios de fissuramento sob tensão (FST) realizados em geomembranas de polietileno (PE) virgens e degradadas em laboratório. As geomembranas foram degradadas pela exposição à radiação ultravioleta, por envelhecimento térmico em estufa com circulação de ar, e pela compatibilidade química com soda cáustica e com vinhaça. Os resultados destes ensaios demonstram que os processos de degradação a que as geomembranas foram submetidas podem ser considerados catalisadores do fenômeno de FST, pois ocorreram reduções de resistência ao FST da ordem de 50 a 60%, com exceção para a amostra em compatibilidade química com vinhaça, que obteve aumento de 17% na resistência ao FST / This work presents results of stress cracking tests (SC) accomplished in virgin and degraded polyethylene (PE) geomembranes at laboratory. Geomembranes were degraded by exposition to ultraviolet radiation, by thermal aging in oven with circulation of air, and by chemical compatibility with sodium hydroxide and with leachate of alcohol production. The results of these tests demonstrate that the degradation processes of the geomembranes were submitted can be considered catalysts of the phenomenon of SC, because they happened resistance reductions to stress crack resistance of the order from 50 to 60%, with exception for the sample in chemical compatibility with leachate of alcohol production, that had an increase of 17% in the stress crack resistance

Die Kunststoffschweißverfahren Infrarot- und Vibrationsschweißen sind in der Serienfertigung etablierte Fügetechnologien. Sie sind durch eine wirtschaftliche und effiziente Prozessführung gekennzeichnet und sind verfahrenstechnisch prinzipiell zum Einsatz im Apparate-, Behälter- und Rohrleitungsbau geeignet. Aufgrund fehlender Erkenntnisse und Nachweise zum Zeitstandverhalten ist die Anwendung dieser Verfahren im Halbzeugbereich jedoch nur eingeschränkt möglich. Im Rahmen der Untersuchungen wurden das Vibrations- und Infrarotschweißen hinsichtlich ihres Potentials für Langzeitanwendungen mit dem konventionellen Halbzeugschweißverfahren Heizelementschweißen verglichen und erreichbare Zeitstandzug-Schweißfaktoren ermittelt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sowohl für das Vibrations- als auch Infrarotschweißen, in Abhängigkeit der Prozessparameter, Zeitstandzug-Schweißfaktoren von ca. 0,7 bis 0,9 erreicht werden. Darüber hinaus führen die Resultate dieser Arbeit zu einer Erweiterung der Wissensbasis über die Mechanismen des Zeitstandbruchverhaltens geschweißter Polyolefinhalbzeuge. Die für die Kurzzeitfestigkeit von Vibrations- und Infrarotschweiß-verbindungen vielfach nachgewiesene Prozess-Struktur-Eigenschaftskorrelation wurde für die Zeitstandfestigkeit erforscht und angewendet. / The infrared and vibration welding processes are joining technologies established in series fabrication. They are characterised by their economically viable and efficient process management and they are suitable for utilisation in apparatus, tank and pipeline construction. However, their application in the field of semi-finished procucts is restricted due to the lack of knowledge and proof in relation to the Environmental Stress Cracking (ESC). Within the framework of the research, the vibration and infrared welding processes were compared with the conventional welding process heated tool butt welding. Furthermore achievable tensile creep welding factors were determined. The results show achievable tensile creep welding factors from ca. 0.7 to 0.9 for the vibration welding process as well as for the infrared welding process dependent on their process parameters. Moreover, the knowledge base of the mechanisms of the failure behaviour of welded joints between semi-finished products undergoing ESC was extended. The process-structure-property correlation, which has been proven for the short-term strength of vibration and infrared welded joints many times, was investigated and applied for the long-term strength.

Today, in the automotive industry, many of the interior parts in the car are made of ABS and PC/ABS polymeric blend. These materials are used in the areas for example: instrument panels, tunnel consoles and door panels. The extensive use of these materials means that it is important to gain in-depth knowledge about the materials,their properties; and also their behaviour when in contact with different chemicals andat different conditions.This study aims to address the potential problem of the polymers used in the interiorof the car - ABS and PC/ABS cracking due to environmental factors. This study proposes to introduce a low-cost test method to compare the polymeric materials and choose the best one for future purposes with the environmental circumstances in mind for materials to have a good service life.During the thesis project, ABS and PC/ABS samples were tested for environmental stress cracking to compare the strained materials against PEG 400 and an assemblyfluid chemical. These tests were conducted at three different temperature levels.Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used to verify the polymeric materialsthat the samples were made of. Optical microscope and FTIR were employed to analyzethe samples for crazes / cracks and degradation of material, respectively.This thesis helped in establishing a good starting point for ESC testing of different materials for the organization. The test method was used to test the failure of material sin ESC. It was observed that the chemicals used for the testing were aggressive and accelerated the cracking process in the materials rapidly. Another observation of the tests was that high strain also caused the materials to fail quickly. While comparing the materials, PC/ABS polymer blend was more resistant than ABS materials to cracking when exposed to same strain level during the creep rupture test (test in absence ofchemicals acting as a reference test for ESC).

One of prominent issues related to failures in nuclear power components is attributed to material degradation due the aggressive environment conditions, and mechanical stresses. For instance, reactor core support components, such as fuel claddings, are under prolonged exposure to an intense neutron field from the fission of fuel and operate at elevated temperature under fatigue loadings caused by start up, shut down, and unscheduled emergency shut down. Additionally, exposure to highluence neutron radiation can lead to microscopic defects that result in material hardening and embrittlement, which significantly affects the physical and mechanical properties of the materials, resulting in further reduction in fatigue life of reactor structural components. The effects of fatigue damage on material deterioration can be further exacerbated by the presence of thermal loading, hold-time, and high-temperature water coolant environments. In this study, uniaxial fatigue models were used to predict fatigue behavior based only on simple monotonic properties including ultimate tensile strength and Brinell hardness. Two existing models, the Bäumel Seeger uniform material law and the Roessle Fatemi hardness method, were employed and extended to include the effects of test temperature, neutron irradiation fluence, irradiation induced helium and irradiation induced swellings on fatigue life of austenitic stainless steels. Furthermore, a methodology to estimate fatigue crack length using a strip-yield based model is presented. This methodology is also extended to address the effect of creep deformation in a presence of hold- times, and expanded to include the effects of irradiation and water environment. Reasonable fatigue life predictions and crack growth estimations are obtained for irradiated austenitic stainless steels types 304, 304L, and 316, when compared to the experimental data available in the literature. Lastly, a failure analysis methodology of a mixer unit shaft made of AISI 304 stainless steel is also presented using a conventional 14-step failure analysis approach. The primary mode of failure is identified to be intergranular stress cracking at the heat affected zones. A means of circumventing this type of failure in the future is presented.

No description available.

Die Kunststoffschweißverfahren Infrarot- und Vibrationsschweißen sind in der Serienfertigung etablierte Fügetechnologien. Sie sind durch eine wirtschaftliche und effiziente Prozessführung gekennzeichnet und sind verfahrenstechnisch prinzipiell zum Einsatz im Apparate-, Behälter- und Rohrleitungsbau geeignet. Aufgrund fehlender Erkenntnisse und Nachweise zum Zeitstandverhalten ist die Anwendung dieser Verfahren im Halbzeugbereich jedoch nur eingeschränkt möglich. Im Rahmen der Untersuchungen wurden das Vibrations- und Infrarotschweißen hinsichtlich ihres Potentials für Langzeitanwendungen mit dem konventionellen Halbzeugschweißverfahren Heizelementschweißen verglichen und erreichbare Zeitstandzug-Schweißfaktoren ermittelt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sowohl für das Vibrations- als auch Infrarotschweißen, in Abhängigkeit der Prozessparameter, Zeitstandzug-Schweißfaktoren von ca. 0,7 bis 0,9 erreicht werden. Darüber hinaus führen die Resultate dieser Arbeit zu einer Erweiterung der Wissensbasis über die Mechanismen des Zeitstandbruchverhaltens geschweißter Polyolefinhalbzeuge. Die für die Kurzzeitfestigkeit von Vibrations- und Infrarotschweiß-verbindungen vielfach nachgewiesene Prozess-Struktur-Eigenschaftskorrelation wurde für die Zeitstandfestigkeit erforscht und angewendet. / The infrared and vibration welding processes are joining technologies established in series fabrication. They are characterised by their economically viable and efficient process management and they are suitable for utilisation in apparatus, tank and pipeline construction. However, their application in the field of semi-finished procucts is restricted due to the lack of knowledge and proof in relation to the Environmental Stress Cracking (ESC). Within the framework of the research, the vibration and infrared welding processes were compared with the conventional welding process heated tool butt welding. Furthermore achievable tensile creep welding factors were determined. The results show achievable tensile creep welding factors from ca. 0.7 to 0.9 for the vibration welding process as well as for the infrared welding process dependent on their process parameters. Moreover, the knowledge base of the mechanisms of the failure behaviour of welded joints between semi-finished products undergoing ESC was extended. The process-structure-property correlation, which has been proven for the short-term strength of vibration and infrared welded joints many times, was investigated and applied for the long-term strength.