• Advances in nano research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.363-373
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• 2023

A novel type of steel fiber with a rounded-end shape is presented to improve the bonding behavior of fibers with Carbon Nanotubes (CNT)-reinforced Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) matrix. For this purpose, by performing a parametric study and using the nonlinear finite element method, the impact of geometric characteristics of the fiber end on its bonding behavior with UHPC has been studied. The cohesive zone model investigates the interface between the fibers and the cement matrix. The mechanical properties of the cohesive zone model are determined by calibrating the finite element results and the experimental fiber pull-out test. Also, the results are evaluated with the straight steel fibers outcomes. Using the novel presented fibers, the bond strength has significantly improved compared to the straight steel fibers. The new proposed fibers increase bond strength by 1.1 times for the same diameter of fibers. By creating fillet at the contact area between the rounded end and the fiber, bond strength is significantly improved, the maximum fiber capacity is reachable, and the pull-out occurs in the form of fracture and tearing of the fibers, which is the most desirable bonding mode for fibers. This also improves the energy absorbed by the fibers and is 4.4 times more than the corresponding straight fibers.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.207-216
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• 2017

This study investigated the effects of the addition of Zn, Ca, and SiC on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-Al alloys. The tensile properties of homogenized Mg-xAl (x = 6, 7, 8, and 9 wt.%) alloys increased with increasing Zn content by the solid-solution strengthening effect. However, when the added Zn content exceeded the solubility limit, the strength and ductility of the alloys decreased greatly owing to premature fracture caused by undissolved coarse particles or local melting. Among the Mg-xAl-yZn alloys tested in this study, the AZ74 alloy showed the best tensile properties. However, from the viewpoints of the thermal stability, castability, and tensile properties, the AZ92 alloy was deemed to be the most suitable cast alloy. Moreover, the addition of a small amount (0.17 wt.%) of SiC reduced the average grain size of the AZ91 alloy significantly, from $430{\mu}m$ to $73{\mu}m$. As a result, both the strength and the elongation of the AZ91 alloy increased considerably by the grain-boundary hardening effect and the suppression of twinning behavior, respectively. On the other hand, the addition of Ca (0.5-1.5 wt.%) and a combined addition of Ca (0.5-1.5 wt.%) and SiC (0.17 wt.%) increased the average grain size of the AZ91 alloy, which resulted in a decrease in its tensile properties. The SiC-added AZ92 alloy exhibited excellent tensile properties (YS 125 MPa, UTS 282 MPa, and EL 12.3%), which were much higher than those of commercial AZ91 alloy (YS 93 MPa, UTS 192 MPa, and EL 7.0%). The fluidity of the SiC-added AZ92 alloy was slightly lower than that of the AZ91 alloy because of the expansion of the solid-liquid coexistence region in the former. However, the SiC-added AZ92 alloy showed better hot-tearing resistance than the AZ91 alloy owing to its refined grain structure.