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Abstract: The production of textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) requires less materials and energy in comparison with conventional concrete reinforced with steel rebars, which draws some solutions towards the production of net zero concrete that the Cement and Concrete Industry sector should reach by 2050. To go one step further, this study investigates the development of flax based meshes as basic components for a reinforcement grid in cementitious materials. Flax strands and hybrid strands (combination of flax strands and glass or basalt rovings) were impregnated with an epoxy resin to form meshes. The physical and mechanical properties of the flax based meshes were assessed and the alkaline resistance of these reinforcing materials was evaluated to determine their durability in a cementitious matrix. At isoweight of reinforcement, the flax-based meshes demonstrated the best performance in terms of specific modulus and specific strength compared to the hybrid meshes. The hybrid meshes from the control batch displayed specific properties in the same range, whether they were constituted of AR-glass or basalt. However, the use of alkali-resistant glass rovings strongly mitigated the degradation of the mechanical properties of the hybrids meshes by making them less affected by the alkaline environment, among all the reinforcement meshes. In contrast, hybrid meshes with basalt experienced an extensive reduction in tensile strength and strain after exposure to alkaline environment, due to the corrosion of the basalt fibres. Pull-out tests revealed maximum bond strengths for the flax based meshes embedded in a high-performance concrete matrix.
Keywords: alkali, cement, flax, reinforcement
Published in DiRROS: 27.08.2025; Views: 505; Downloads: 241
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Abstract: Thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) densification is a well-known wood modification procedure for improving the mechanical properties of low-density wood species, but its performance at elevated temperatures is not well understood. The objective of this study was to determine the bending behaviour of densified Scots pine at elevated temperatures. A total of 48 specimens (200 mm (longitudinonal) × 20 mm (radial) × 20 mm (tangential)) were tested to investigate the bending performance under constant temperatures at 25, 50, 125 and 175°C, respectively. It was found that the modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of both un-densified and densified pine decreased with increasing temperature. However, the densified wood exhibited more brittle shear failure but retained higher MOR and MOE than the untreated specimens treated at the same temperature level. In general, the results demonstrate that densification can be a potentially effective method to retain the mechanical properties of wood at elevated temperatures, thereby having a potential maintain the load-bearing capacity during and after fire.
Keywords: densification, wood, fire safety
Published in DiRROS: 28.11.2024; Views: 718; Downloads: 655
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Abstract: This paper explores the possibility of using flexible polymer adhesives to dissipate energy in CLT buildings during earthquakes. In the first series of tests, pull-off tests of various polyurethane (PUR) adhesives were performed. The connection was tested in pull-pull configuration using monotonic, tension-only loading. The tests have shown that the adhesive can resist large deformations already in tension loading and with small thicknesses of the bond-line. Based on the pull-off test results, one adhesive has been selected for further testing. Monotonic lap-shear tests were performed with the selected adhesive and thick bond-line (3 mm and 6 mm). The results show, that the standard method for lap-shear testing (EN 205) needs to be adapted for thick glue-line. It was found that the strength of 3 mm glue-line is higher than 6mm one, which is in agreement with adhesion theory. The flexible PUR adhesives could potentially be used in CLT structures for anchoring the CLT wall with “flexible” glued-in rods or as a “flexible” vertical shear connection between the CLT walls. Such systems have a potential to dissipate energy in seismic areas.
Keywords: CLT connections, flexible adhesive, polyurethane, energy dissipation, pull-off, lap-shear
Published in DiRROS: 19.01.2024; Views: 1434; Downloads: 675
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Abstract: Single edge-notched three-point bending tests (SEN-TPB) for mode I were utilized to experimentallyevaluate fracture properties of adhesive bondlines in European beech (Fagus SylvaticaL.). Thebondline was examined at two anatomical planes with TR and RT orientation and at control andtwo elevated temperatures (70°C and 140°C). Among epoxy (EPI), melamine-urea formaldehyde (MUF), and polyurethane (PUR) adhesives, the highest average critical energyGcwith 0.80 N/mmand fracture energyGfwith 1079.4 N/mm were obtained for EPI in the TR plane and understandard climate conditions (20°C/65% relative humidity), followed by MUF (Gc= 0.50 N/mm andGf= 620 N/mm) and PUR (Gc= 0.25 N/mm andGf= 290.9 N/mm), respectively. PUR was leasteffected by elevated temperature, and no significant differences forGcandGfbetween TR and RTbondline orientations were found for MUF and PUR treated at 20°C/65% relative humidity whilecomparisons between other factors varied significantly. Treatment of specimens at elevatedtemperatures resulted in reduced fracture performance regardless of wood grain orientation orthe adhesive system.
Keywords: crack, fracture, grain orientation, temperature, European Beech, odprti dostop
Published in DiRROS: 03.05.2023; Views: 1533; Downloads: 1425
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