• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2019

In this study, the mechanical properties of reactive powder concrete (RPC) with a constant cement to silica fume ratio of 4 were investigated. In the experimental program, reactive powder concretes with steel fiber at different ratios were produced. Five productions using quartz sand with a maximum grain size of 0.6 mm were performed. A superplasticizer with a ratio of 3% of the cement was used for all productions. $40{\times}40{\times}160mm$ prismatic specimens were prepared and tested for flexural and compression. The specimens were exposed to two different curing conditions as autoclave and standard curing condition. Autoclave exposure was performed for 3 hours under a pressure of 2 MPa. It was observed that the compressive strength of concrete, along with the flexural strength exposed to autoclave was quite high compared to the strength of concretes subjected to standard curing. The results obtained indicated that the compressive strength, along with the flexural strength of autoclaved concrete increased as the amount of cement used increases. Approximately 15% increase in flexural strength was achieved with a 4% steel fiber addition. The maximum compressive strength that has been reached is over 210 MPa for reactive powder concrete for the same steel fiber ratio and with a cement content of $960kg/m^3$. The relationship between compressive strength and flexural strength of reactive powder concrete exposed to both curing conditions was also identified.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.195-206
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• 2019

The gypsiferous soils are significantly sensitive to moisture and the water has a severe destructive effect on them. Therefore, the effect of lime and silica fume addition on their mechanical properties, when subjected to water, is investigated. Gypsiferous soil specimens were mixed with 1, 2 and 3% lime and 1, 3, 5 and 7% silica fume, in terms of the dry weight of soil. The specimens were mixed at optimum moisture content and cured for 24 hours, 7 and 28 days. 86 specimens in the sizes of unconfined compression strength test mold were prepared to perform unconfined compressive strength and durability tests. The results proved that adding even 1% of each of these additives can lead to a 15 times increase in unconfined compressive strength, compared with untreated specimen, and this increases as the curing time is prolonged. Also, after soaking, the compressive strength of the specimens stabilized with 2 and 3% lime plus different percentages of silica fume was considerably higher than before soaking. The durability of the treated specimens increased significantly after soaking. Direct shear tests showed that lime treatment is more efficient than silica fume treatment. Moreover, it is concluded that the initial tangent modulus and the strain at failure increased as the normal stress of the test was increased. Also, the higher lime contents, up to certain limits, increase the shear strength. Therefore, simultaneous use of lime and silica fume is recommended to improve the geotechnical properties of gypsiferous soils.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.519-525
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• 2024

In this paper, a study on the physical properties of mortar applying 3D Textile was conducted to compensate for the shortcomings of the existing concrete surface repair and reinforcement method. In the tests conducted to analyze the physical properties, compressive strength, flexural strength, and dynamic modulus measurement tests were conducted. As a result of the compressive strength test, as the number of surfaces to which the stereoscopic fiber was applied increased, the amount of displacement and strength reduction rate increased, and the flexural strength also increased as the number of surfaces to which the stereoscopic fiber was applied increased. In addition, it was confirmed that the use of stereoscopic fibers tended to decrease the dynamic modulus of elasticity. This result is a characteristic of the application of stereoscopic fibers, and it caused a decrease in compressive strength due to a decrease in the mortar content of the part to which the stereoscopic fib er was applied, and the high tensile force of the stereoscopic fiber is believed to have affected the increase in flexural strength.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.167-179
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• 2018

Reactive powder concrete (RPC) is a type of ultra-high strength cement-based material with a dense microstructure, which is made of ultra-fine powders. RPC demonstrate a very brittle behavior, thus adding fibers improves its mechanical properties. In this study, it was attempted to investigate the effect of using steel and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers as well as their combination on the properties of RPC. In this regard, hooked-end crimped steel fibers together with short PVA fibers were utilized. Steel and PVA fibers were used with the maximum volume fraction of 3% and 0.75%, respectively, and also different combinations of these fibers were used with the maximum volume fraction of 1% in the concrete mixes. In total, 107 concrete specimens were prepared, and the effect of fiber type and volume fraction on the physico-mechanical properties of RPC including compressive strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, density, and failure mode was explored. In addition, the effect of the curing type on the properties of compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, and density of RPC was evaluated. Finally, coefficients for conversion of cubic compressive strength to cylindrical one for the RPC specimens were obtained under the two curing regimes of heat treatment and standard water curing.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.357-364
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• 2017

This paper presents the results of a study that investigated the improvement of the mechanical properties of coarse and fine recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) produced by adding silica fume (SF) with contents of 5%, 10%, and 15% by total weight of the cement. The coarse and fine natural aggregate (NA) were replaced by RAP with replacement ratio of 20%, 40% and 60% by the total weight of NA. In addition, SF was added to NA concrete mixes as a control for comparison. Twenty eight mixes were produced and tested for compressive, splitting tensile and flexural strength at the age of 28 days. The results show that the mechanical properties decrease with as the content of RAP increases. And the decrease in the compressive strength was more in the fine RAP mixes compared to the coarse RAP mixes, while the decrease in the splitting tensile and flexural strength was almost the same in both mixes. Furthermore, using SF enhances the mechanical properties of RAP mixes where the optimum content of SF was found to be 10%, and the mechanical properties enhancement of coarse RAP were better than fine RAP mixes. Accordingly, the RAP has the potential to be used in the concrete pavements or in other low strength construction applications in order to reduce the negative impact of RAP on the environment and human health.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.261-268
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• 2004

The main objectives of this study are to investigate the anisotropic characteristics of rocks and to evaluate the relationships between physical properties. A series of experiments were performed in three mutually perpendicular directions for three rock types, which are granite, granitic gneiss and limestone. The relationships of measured physical properties were evaluated. The results of ultrasonic wave velocity measurement show that granite of three rock types gives the largest directional difference, and that the wave velocity in a plane parallel to a transversely isotropic one is dominantly faster than that in a subvertical or vertical plane. It implies that ultrasonic wave velocity for rock could be used as a useful tool for estimating the degree of anisotropy. The ratio of uniaxial compressive strength to Brazilian tensile strength ranges approximately from 13 to 16 for granite. from 8 to 9 for granite gneiss, and from 9 to 18 for limestone. The directional differences for granite and granitic gneiss are very small, and on the other hand, is relatively large for limestone. It is suggested that strength of rock makes quite difference depending on the rock types and loading directions, especially for the anisotropic rocks such as transversely isotropic or orthotropic rocks. The ratio of uniaxial compressive strength to point load strength index ranges from 18 to 20 for granite, from 17 to 19 for granitic gneiss, and from 21 to 24 for limestone. These results show that point load strength index makes also a difference depending on rock types and directions. Therefore. it should be noted that the ratio of uniaxial compressive strength to point load strength index could be applied to all rock types. Uniaxial compressive strength shows relatively good relationship with point load strength index, Schmidt hammer rebound value, and tensile strength. In particulat, point load strength index is shown to be the best comparative relationship. It is indicated that point load test is the most useful tool to estimate an uniaxial compressive strength indirectly.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2024

We report the effect of plastic deformation on the thermoelectric properties of n-type Bi₂Te_2.5Se_0.5 compounds. N-type Bi₂Te_2.5Se_0.5 powders are synthesized by an oxide-reduction process and consolidated via spark-plasma sintering. To explore the effect of plastic deformation on the thermoelectric properties, the sintered bodies are subjected to uniaxial pressure to induce a controlled amount of compressive strains (-0.2, -0.3, and -0.4). The shaping temperature is set using a thermochemical analyzer, and the plastic deformation effect is assessed without altering the material composition through differential scanning calorimetry. This strategy is crucial because the conventional hot-forging process can often lead to alterations in material composition due to the high volatility of chalcogen elements. With increasing compressive strain, the (00l) planes become aligned in the direction perpendicular to the pressure axis. Furthermore, an increase in the carrier concentration is observed upon compressive plastic deformation, i.e., the donor-like effect of the plastic deformation in n-type Bi₂Te_2.5Se_0.5 compounds. Owing to the increased electrical conductivity through the preferred orientation and the donor-like effect, an improved ZT is achieved in n-type Bi₂Te_2.5Se_0.5 through the compressive-forming process.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.243-252
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• 1999

The damage caused in the processes and distributions after harvesting the fruits and vegetables is attributed to the mechanical factors such as compressive and impact forces. Compression tests of biological materials provide an objective method for determining the apparent modulus of elasticity and mechanical properties which are significant in quality evaluation and control, and them maximum allowable compressive forces for minimizing mechanical damage. This study was performed to determine the mechanical properties of apple and pear, and to investigate effect of specimen shapes on the mechanical properties of them. A computer program was developed for measuring the mechanical properties and analyzing the data obtained from the measurement. Compression tests on the sample were performed with then replications at each treatment and at 25 mm/min loading rate. Mechanical properties of the apple was generally shown the higher value than those of the pear, and it was though that data obtained form the cylindrical specimen removed from the sample was more reliable than from the specimen cut in half.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.113-137
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• 2016

Extensive experimental studies on remarkable mechanical properties Polypropylene Fibre Reinforced Self-compacting Concrete (PFRSCC) have been executed, including different fibre volume fractions of Polypropylene fibers (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1%) and different water to cement ratios (0.21, 0.34, 0.38, and 0.41). The experimental program was carried out by using two hundred and sixteen specimens to obtain the impact resistance and mechanical properties of PFRSCC materials, considering compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength. Statistical and analytical studies have been mainly focused on experimental data to correlate of mechanical properties of PFRSCC materials. Statistical results revealed that compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strengths as well as impact resistance follow the normal distribution. Moreover, to correlate mechanical properties based on acquired test results, linear and nonlinear equations were developed among mechanical properties and impact resistance of PFRSCC materials.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.479-488
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• 2020

The experimental and numerical works were carried out on high performance fiber reinforced concrete (HPFRC) with w/cm ratios ranging from 0.25 to 0.40, fiber volume fraction (Vf)=0-1.5% and 10% silica fume replacement. Improvements in compressive and flexural strengths obtained for HPFRC are moderate and significant, respectively, Empirical equations developed for the compressive strength and flexural strength of HPFRC as a function of fiber volume fraction. A relation between flexural strength and compressive strength of HPFRC with R=0.78 was developed. Due to the complex mix proportions and non-linear relationship between the mix proportions and properties, models with reliable predictive capabilities are not developed and also research on HPFRC was empirical. In this paper due to the inadequacy of present method, a back propagation-neural network (BP-NN) was employed to estimate the 28-day compressive strength of HPFRC mixes. BP-NN model was built to implement the highly non-linear relationship between the mix proportions and their properties. This paper describes the data sets collected, training of ANNs and comparison of the experimental results obtained for various mixtures. On statistical analyses of collected data, a multiple linear regression (MLR) model with R2=0.78 was developed for the prediction of compressive strength of HPFRC mixes, and average absolute error (AAE) obtained is 6.5%. On validation of the data sets by NNs, the error range was within 2% of the actual values. ANN model has given the significant degree of accuracy and reliability compared to the MLR model. ANN approach can be effectively used to estimate the 28-day compressive strength of fibrous concrete mixes and is practical.