• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.999-1022
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• 2016

The use of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) to strengthen steel structures has attracted the attention of researchers greatly. Previous studies demonstrated bonding of CFRP plates to the steel sections has been a successful method to increase the mechanical properties. However, the main limitation to popular use of steel/CFRP strengthening system is the concern on durability of bonding between steel and CFRP in various environmental conditions. The paper evaluates the performance of I-section steel beams strengthened with pultruded CFRP plate on the bottom flange after exposure to diverse conditions including natural tropical climate, wet/dry cycles, plain water, salt water and acidic solution. Four-point bending tests were performed at specific intervals and the mechanical properties were compared to the control beam. Besides, the ductility of the strengthened beams and distribution of shear stress in adhesive layer were investigated thoroughly. The study found the adhesive layer was the critical part and the performance of the system related directly to its behavior. The highest strength degradation was observed for the beams immersed in salt water around 18% after 8 months exposure. Besides, the ductility of all strengthened beams increased after exposure. A theoretical procedure was employed to model the degradation of epoxy adhesive.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.687-706
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• 2015

Methods commonly used to evaluate the improvement of lime-treated expansive soil include swelling characteristics and unconfined compressive strength. In the field, lime-treated expansive soils are in compacted unsaturated state. Soil water characteristic curves (SWCCs) represent a key parameter to interpret and describe the behavior of unsaturated expansive soil. This paper investigates the use of SWCC as a technique to evaluate improvements acquired by expansive soil after lime treatment. Three different lime contents were considered 2%, 4% and 6% by dry weight of clay. Series of tests were performed to determine the SWCC for the different lime content under curing periods of 7 and 28 day. Correlations between key features of the soil water characteristic curves of lime treated expansive soils and basic engineering behavior such as swelling characteristics and unconfined compression strength were established. Test results revealed that initial slope ($S_1$), saturated water content ($w_{sat}$), and air entry value (AEV) play an important role in reflecting improvement in engineering behavior achieved by lime treatment.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.649-661
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• 2015

This research provides insight on the laboratory investigation of the engineering properties of a lateritic soil modified with the mucilage of Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes (MOFIC), which has a history of being used as an earthen plaster. The soil is classified, according to AASHTO classification system, as A-2-6(1). The Atterberg limits, compaction, permeability, California bearing ratio (CBR) and unconfined compressive strength of the soil were determined for each of 0, 4, 8 and 12% addition of the MOFIC, by dry weight of the soil. The plasticity index, optimum moisture content, swell potential, unconfined compressive strength and permeability decreased while the soaked and unsoaked CBR increased, with increasing MOFIC contents. The engineering properties of the natural soil, which only satisfies standard requirements for use as subgrade material, became improved by the application of MOFIC such that it meets the standard requirements for use as sub-base material for road construction. The effects of MOFIC on the engineering properties of the soil resulted from bioclogging and biocementation processes. MOFIC is recommended for use as a modifier of the engineering properties of soils, especially those with similar characteristics to that of the soil used in this study, to be used as a pavement layer material. It is more economical and environment-friendly than conventional soil stabilizers or modifiers.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.301-306
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• 2018

Stabilization of clayey soil has been studied from past to present by mixing different additives to the soil to increase its strength and durability. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in stabilization of soils with natural pozzolans. Despite this, very few studies have investigated the impact of pozzolanic additives under freeze-thaw cycling. This paper presents the results of an experimental research study on the durability behavior of clayey soils treated with lime and perlite. For this purpose, soil was stabilized with 6% lime content by weight of dry soil (optimum lime ratio of the the soil), perlite was mixed with it in 0%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 25% and 30% proportions. Test specimens were compacted in the laboratory and cured for 7, 28 and 84 days, after which they were tested for unconfined compression tests. In addition to this, they were subjected to 12 closed system freeze-thaw cycles after curing for 28 days. The results show that the addition of perlite as a pozzolanic additive to lime stabilized soil improves the strength and durability. Unconfined compressive strength increases with increased perlite content. The findings indicate that using natural pozzolan which is cheaper than lime, has positive effect in strength and durability of soils and can result cost reduction of stabilization.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.361-377
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• 2020

In the present research work, the effectiveness and the efficiency of a retrofitting approach using a layer of ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) jacket for damaged substandard exterior beam-column joints (BCJs) is experimentally investigated. The main objective of this study is to rehabilitate the already damaged BCJs to meet the serviceability requirements without compromising safety. According to the proposed strengthening technique, a chipped surface, lightly brushed with a dry condition was selected for making a successful bond between normal concrete substrate surface (NCSS) and UHPFRC. Then a fresh UHPFRC jacket with a thickness of 30 mm was cast around the damaged specimens. The entire test matrix was comprised of three 1/3 scale damaged exterior BCJs with a different column axial load (CAL). These specimens were repaired with UHPFRC and retested under monotonic loading. Based on the experimental results, repaired specimens showed an excellent performance in terms of their load-displacement response, maximum strength, displacement ductility, initial stiffness, secant stiffness and energy dissipation capacity when compared with the corresponding values registered when these specimens were tested in their virgin state. This rehabilitative intervention not only restored the strength, stiffness, ductility and energy dissipation capacity of severely damaged specimens but also improved their performance.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.193-203
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• 2016

Compared to metal-to-metal tribology, polymer tribology presents further complexity as it is more prone to be influenced by operating conditions. Over the past two decades, progress in the field of wear of polymers has led to the establishment of more refined wear mechanisms. The current paper establishes the link between different load parameters and the wear rate of polymers, based on experimental investigations. A pin-on-plate reciprocating tribometer was used to examine the wear behaviour of polyamide sliding against a steel counterface, under constant and fluctuating loads, in dry conditions. In addition, the influence of controlled imperfections in the polymer surface upon its wear rate were examined, under cyclic and steady loading, in order to better understand surface fatigue wear of polymers. The imposed imperfections consisted of vertical artificial deep crack (slit) perpendicular or parallel to the direction of sliding. The study concludes with the followings findings; in general, wear of polymers shows a significant tendency to the type of applied load. Under cyclic loads, polymers show an increase in wear rate compared to those tested under static loads. Such increase was found to increase with the increase in cyclic load frequency. It is also demonstrated that surface cracks results in higher wear rates, particularly under cyclic loads.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.519-526
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• 2017

In the present paper, the effects of cutting parameters and coating material on the performances of cutting tools in turning of AISI 52100 steel are discussed experimentally. A comparative study was carried out between uncoated and coated (with TiCN-TiN coating layer) cermet tools. The substrate composition and the geometry of the inserts compared were the same. A mathematical model was developed based on the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). ANOVA method was used to quantify the effect of cutting parameters on the machining surface quality and the cutting forces. The results show that feed rate has the most effect on surface quality. However, cutting depth has the significant effect on the cutting force components. The effect of coating layers on the surface quality was also studied. A lower surface roughness was observed when using PVD (TiCN-TiN) coated insert. A second order regression model was developed and a good accuracy was obtained with correlation coefficients in the range of 95% to 97%.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.48-52
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• 1998

Residues such as walnut, pinenut and peanut shells were used as a filler in adhesive for bonding radiata pine plywood. The nutshell residues were prepared by simply drying to 8% moisture content and grinding the dry material using a laboratory Wiley mill with a $75{\mu}m$ (200 mesh) screen. The nutshells residues were compared to a commercial filler commonly used in adhesives by the structural plywood and laminated veneer lumber industry in the United States. The adhesive mixes were made by following the recommended procedure of Georgia-Pacific Resins, Inc., using phenol-formaldehyde resin. For each filler type, three-ply plywoods, 6 mm nominal thickness and 30 by 30 cm in size, were fabricated at two press times (4 and 5 min) and around 30 minute assembly time. Evaluations of the nutshell residues were carried out by tension shear tests after cyclic boil tests on plywood. The results of the performance test included tension shear strength and wood failure. All plywoods made with the nutshell fillers were comparable to those made with the control filler. These results indicate that nutshell residues would be suitable as filler for plywood adhesives.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2017

Spherical-type zirconia granules are successfully fabricated by a spray-drying process using a water solvent slurry, and the change in the green density of the granule powder compacts is examined according to the organic polymers used. Two organic binders, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), which are dissolved in a water solvent and have different degrees of polymerization, are applied to the slurry with a plasticizer (polyethylene glycol). The granules employing a binder with a higher degree of polymerization (PVA) are not broken under a uniaxial press; consequently, they exhibit a poor green density of $2.4g/cm^3$. In contrast, the granule powder compacts employing a binder with a lower degree of polymerization (HEMA) show a higher density of $2.6g/cm^3$ with an increase in plasticizer content. The packing behavior of the granule powders for each organic polymer system is studied by examining the microstructure of the fracture surface at different applied pressures.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.45-60
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• 2015

This paper aimed to investigate the effect of MWCNTs on properties of slag Geopolymeric mortar. Geopolymeric matrices containing different MWCNTs concentrations (0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 % by weight of the used binder) were synthesized. The Geopolymer mortar composed of aluminosilicate slag to sand (1:2), while the alumino silicate source binder composed of 50% air cooled slag and 50%water cooled slag both passing a sieve of $90{\mu}m$, while the sand passing a sieve of 1 ml. The materials prepared at water/binder ratios in a range of 0.34-0.39% depending on the added MWCNT, whereas the Gelenium Ace-30 superplasticizer used in the ratio of 1.4-2.2% from the total dry weight for better dispersion of MWCNT under sonication for 15 min. Alkaline activation of the Geopolymer mortar was carried by using of 6% NaOH. Curing was performed under temperature of $40^{\circ}C$ and 100% R.H. Results showed that the addition of MWCNTs enhanced the resulting amorphous geopolymer structure with marked decrease in the drying shrinkage as well as water absorption specially when using 0.1% MWCNT, while further increase in MWCNTs results in agglomeration in MWCNT within the matrix and so hinder the propagation of Geopolymerization reaction and negatively affect the formed geopolymer structure.