This thesis work deals with the volume changes during the solidification of cast irons and peritectic steels. The volume changes in casting metals are related to the expansion and/or contraction of the molten metal during solidification. Often, different types of shrinkage, namely macro- and micro-shrinkage, affect the casting quality. In addition to that, exposure of the metal casting to higher contraction or expansion during the solidification might also be related to internal strain development in samples, which eventually leads to surface crack propagation in some types of steel alloys during continuous casting. In consequence, a deep understanding of the mechanisms and control of the solidification will improve casting quality and production. All of the experiments during the entire work were carried out on laboratory scale samples. Displacement changes during solidification were measured with the help of a Linear Variable Displacement Transformer (LVDT). All of the LVDT experiments were performed on samples inside a sand mould. Simultaneously, the cooling curves of the respective samples during solidification were recorded with a thermocouple. By combining the displacement and cooling curves, the volume changes was evaluated and later used to explain the influence of inoculants, carbon and cooling rates on volume shrinkages of the casting. Hypoeutectic grey cast iron (GCI) and nodular cast iron (NCI) with hypo-, hyper- and eutectic carbon compositions were considered in the experiments from cast iron group. High nickel alloy steel (Sandvik Sanbar 64) was also used from peritectic steel type. These materials were melted inside an induction furnace and treated with different types of inoculants before and during pouring in order to modify the composition. Samples that were taken from the LVDT experiments were investigated using a number of different  methods in order to support the observations from the displacement measurements:  Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), to evaluate the different phase present; Dilatometry, to see the effect of cooling rates on contraction for the various types of alloys; metallographic studies with optical microscopy; Backscattered electrons (BSE) analysis on SEM S-3700N, to investigate the different types of oxide and sulphide nuclei; and bulk density measurements  by applying Archimedes' principle. Furthermore, the experimental volume expansion during solidification was compared with the theoretically calculated values for GCI and NCI. It was found that the casting shows hardly any shrinkage during early solidification in GCI, but in the eutectic region the casting expands until the end of solidification. The measured and the calculated volume changes are close to one another, but the former shows more expansion. The addition of MBZCAS (Si, Ca, Zr, Ba, Mn and Al) promotes more flake graphite, and ASSC (Si, Ca, Sr and Al) does not increase the number of eutectic cells by much. In addition to that, it lowers the primary austenite fraction, promotes more eutectic growth and decreases undercooled graphite and secondary dendritic arm spacing (SDAS). As a result, the volume expansion changes in the eutectic region. The expansion during the eutectic growth increase with an increase in the inoculant weight percentage. At the same time, the eutectic cells become smaller and increase in number. The effect of the inoculant and the superheat temperature shows a variation in the degree of expansion/contraction and the cooling rates for the experiments. Effective inoculation tends to homogenize the eutectic structure, reducing the undercooled and interdendritic graphite throughout the structure. In NCI experiments, it was found that the samples showed no expansion in the transversal direction due to higher micro-shrinkages in the centre, whereas in the longitudinal direction the samples shows expansion until solidification was complete.   The theoretical and measured volume changes agreed with each other. The austenite fraction and number of micro-shrinkage pores decreased with increase in carbon content. The nodule count and distribution changes with carbon content. The thermal contraction of NCI is not influenced by the variation in carbon content at lower cooling rates. The structural analysis and solidification simulation results for NCI show that the nodule size and count distribution along the cross-sections at various locations are different due to the variation in cooling rates and carbon concentration. Finer nodule graphite appears in the thinner sections and close to the mold walls. A coarser structure is distributed mostly in the last solidified location. The simulation result indicates that finer nodules are associated with higher cooling rate and a lower degree of microsegregation, whereas the coarser nodules are related to lower cooling rate and a higher degree of microsegregation. As a result, this structural variation influences the micro-shrinkage in different parts. The displacement change measurements show that the peritectic steel expands and/or contracts during the solidification. The primary austenite precipitation during the solidification in the metastable region is accompanied by gradual expansion on the casting sides. Primary δ-ferrite precipitation under stable phase diagram is complemented by a severe contraction during solidification. The microstructural analysis reveals that the only difference between the samples is grain refinement with Ti addition. Moreover, the severe contraction in solidification region might be the source for the crack formation due to strain development, and further theoretical analysis is required in the future to verify this observation. / <p>QC 20170228</p>

This diploma thesis deals with the experimental and numerical analysis of volume changes of fine-grained concrete. Experiments were carried out, measuring both the length changes as well as the mass losses and the internal temperature of the test specimens made from fine-grained concrete. The measurements were divided into two parts (phases). The first phase took approx. 72 hours. The second phase was focused on the long-term measurements and will be completed after stabilization of the mass losses and length changes. In the diploma thesis, the first phase of measurement was elaborated in detail, both in terms of experimental and numerical analysis. In addition, a C # .NET program was created to facilitate the processing of raw measurement data from the data logger. Finally, a comparative calculation was performed according to the model B4, where the result of the calculation was compared with the results of the experiment.

This diploma thesis deals with the analysis of volume changes of selected silicate based composites. The first part introduces the issue of volume changes of concrete, especially the shrinkage process, two selected models for shrinkage prediction, describes configuration and course of performed tests, as well as the processing of measured experimental data. The second part contains input data modified by the program GTDiPS and another calculated parameters. The result of the work is the evaluation of the influence of thermal dilation on the development of shrinkage of young concrete. Another output is the comparison of accuracy of the two selected prediction models to capture the course of measured shrinkage.

The diploma thesis deals with the determination of the influence of the maximum density of the cement matrix on the volume changes of concrete, the influence of different admixtures or their combinations on the development of hydration temperatures and on the water separation of concrete. The theoretical part describes the various types of volume changes of concrete, the effects of individual input components and mineral admixtures on water separation, hydration heat development and concrete microstructure. The experimental part is focused on monitoring not only the volume changes of concrete mixtures made using different types of admixtures or their suitable combination until the age of 60 days of maturation, but also the influence of their use on selected mechanical parameters of concrete such as compressive strength, concrete in its fresh state and monitoring changes in the microstructure from long-term aging mixtures.

Master’s thesis examines the effect of the shrinkage reducing additives on rheological properties of high-strength concrete. The first part is focused on high-strength concrete in terms of their composition and properties. The second part contains a detailed analysis of the cementitious composites shrinkage problems. Total shrinkage is divided into individual elementary shrinkages. For each of them there is a detailed description of causes and factors that affect their sizes. The next part describes the basic additives used to reduce the shrinkage of cementitious composites. The experimental part is focused on verifying the effectiveness of the shrinkage reducing additives during preparation of high-strength concrete. Usage of shrinkage drains for relative strain measurement enables to determine the process of shrinkage immediately after placing the concrete in the form and to obtain the overall curve of the hight-strength concrete volume changes during its setting and hardening. At the end of the thesis, there are overall analysis and summary of the results of the performed experiments.

Volume changes are one of the priority characteristics of concrete that plays an important role place mainly in the durability of structures as such. These low volume changes are required especially for structures as: industrial concrete floors, massive structures and waterproof structures. One of the possibilities in reducing these changes is the use of mineral admixtures with suitable grain curve of aggregate. Another possibility is the use of shrinkage reducing admixtures. There can occur problem with efficiency (long term age) with other components of the mixture. Therefore, the effort of this work is to use the avaible processes for maximum reduction of shrinkage and hydration temperatures.

This thesis focuses on collecting all available data on mixing Portland cements and especially on Portland cements with limestone. In the experimental part are compare the rheological properities of mixing Portland cements with limestone, their compatibility with plasticizing additives, witch depends on the type of additives, dosage and time, then in experimental part they are summarized monitoring of physical-mechanical properties and volume changes of concrete.

The thesis is divided into two main parts. In the first theoretical part is described the problems of shrinking including a comparison of Czech standard and Model Code 2010, Vol. 1. The second practical part of the master`s thesis is focused on the numerical analysis shrinkage primarily on the initial stage of this process. The experimentally obtained data are set approximations of the relative deformation using ShrCeC. Subsequently the numerical simulation of shrinkage of selected silicate specimens using a computer applications SpatiDist and FyDiK 2D. The real test specimens are modelled as two-component composite consisting of cement paste and aggregates. The result is a parametric study takes into account the influence of type and size of grain aggregate.