Temperature and duration impact on the strength development of geopolymerized granulated blast furnace slag for usage as a construction material
- Authors: Arulrajah, Arul , Maghool, Farshid , Yaghoubi, Mohammadjavad , Phetchuay, Chayakrit , Horpibulsuk, Suksun
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering Vol. 33, no. 2 (2021), p.
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Through the process of extracting iron from iron ore, a by-product is generated known as granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS). Traditional stabilization methods such as cement stabilization are not entirely sustainable options. This research investigates the engineering properties of geopolymer-stabilized GBFS and their viability for usage as a construction material. A combination of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) was used as the liquid alkaline activator (L) along with low-carbon pozzolanic binders, namely, fly ash (FA) and slag (S). The L was prepared with a Na2SiO3:NaOH ratio of 70 30 and binders were added up to 30%. The effect of different curing regimes on the strength of geopolymerized GBFS was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests. The effect of both the temperature and duration of curing had a vital role in the strength development of the mixtures. The test results indicated that the combination of FA+S as a geopolymer binder could perform better than FA or S alone. With the lowest UCS value of 7.8 MPa and highest value of 43 MPa, all the geopolymer-stabilized GBFS were found to be suitable for a variety of civil and construction applications. © 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
Crack propagation modelling in concrete using the scaled boundary finite element method with hybrid polygon-quadtree meshes
- Authors: Ooi, Ean Tat , Natarajan, Sundararajan , Song, Chongmin , Ooi, Ean Hin
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Fracture Vol. 203, no. 1-2 (2017), p. 135-157
- Full Text: false
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- Description: This manuscript presents an extension of the recently-developed hybrid polygon-quadtree-based scaled boundary finite element method to model crack propagation in concrete. This hybrid approach combines the use of quadtree cells with arbitrary sided polygons for domain discretization. The scaled boundary finite element formulation does not distinguish between quadtree cells and arbitrary sided polygons in the mesh. A single formulation is applicable to all types of cells and polygons in the mesh. This eliminates the need to develop transitional elements to bridge the cells belonging to different levels in the quadtree hierarchy. Further to this, the use of arbitrary sided polygons facilitate the accurate discretization of curved boundaries that may result during crack propagation. The fracture process zone that is characteristic in concrete fracture is modelled using zero-thickness interface elements that are coupled to the scaled boundary finite element method using a shadow domain procedure. The scaled boundary finite element method can accurately model the asymptotic stress field in the vicinity of the crack tip with cohesive tractions. This leads to the accurate computation of the stress intensity factors, which is used to determine the condition for crack propagation and the resulting direction. Crack growth can be efficiently resolved using an efficient remeshing algorithm that employs a combination of quadtree decomposition functions and simple Booleans operations. The flexibility of the scaled boundary finite element method to be formulated on arbitrary sided polygons also result in a flexible remeshing algorithm for modelling crack propagation. The developed method is validated using three laboratory experiments of notched concrete beams subjected to different loading conditions.
Design and installation of subsea cable, pipeline and umbilical crossing interfaces
- Authors: Reda, Ahmed , Howard, Ian , Forbes, Gareth , Sultan, Ibrahim , McKee, Kristoffer
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Engineering Failure Analysis Vol. 81, no. (2017), p. 193-203
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Deterioration of subsea cable, pipeline and umbilical crossings often occur due to relative movement between the crossing members. Any crossing design should aim to achieve a sound, fit for purpose solution that will be maintenance free over the crossing life. Due to the increased density of subsea fields, crossing instances need to be increasingly accommodated. Current subsea design codes are not explicit in the criteria for subsea crossings, beyond recommending pipeline separation distances. The work within this paper describes two case studies in the novel use of articulated padding applied to the crossing member, using the crossed pipeline as a support and then using the articulated padding resting on traditional grout-bag supports. The results highlight the ability of the articulated padding to provide the required separation on subsea crossings without the need for extra support design. It is also shown that the articulated padding can be used on grout-bag shoulder supports to allow full subsea crossing separation for crossing lays that will undergo large environmental loading conditions, and hence relative motion. The results presented also provide a basis for the development of future industry standards incorporating articulated padding designs. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd
Mechanical properties of sandwich panels constructed from polystyrene/cement mixed cores and thin cement sheet facings
- Authors: Tabatabaiefar, Hamid , Mansoury, Bita , Khadivi Zand, Mohammad , Potter, Daniel
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Sandwich Structures and Materials Vol. 19, no. 4 (2017), p. 456-481
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Sandwich panels are made of two materials that are relatively weak in their separated state, but are improved when they are constructed together in a sandwich panel. Sandwich panels can be used for almost any section of a building including roofs, walls and floors. These building components are regularly required to provide insulation properties, weatherproofing properties and durability in addition to providing structural load bearing characteristics. Polystyrene/cement mixed cores and thin cement sheet facings sandwich panels are Australian products made of cement-polystyrene beaded mixture encapsulated between two thick cement board sheets. The structural properties of sandwich panels constructed of polystyrene/cement cores and thin cement sheet facings are relatively unknown. Therefore, in this study, to understand the mechanical behaviour and properties of those sandwich panels, a series of experimental tests have been performed and the outcomes have been explained and discussed. Based on the results of this study, values for modulus of elasticity and ultimate strength of the sandwich panels in dry and saturated conditions have been determined and proposed for practical applications. © 2015, © The Author(s) 2015.
On the convexity of nonlinear elastic energies in the right Cauchy-Green tensor
- Authors: Gao, David , Neff, Patrizio , Roventa, Ionel , Thiel, Christian
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Elasticity Vol. 127, no. 2 (2017), p. 303-308
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- Description: We present a sufficient condition under which a weak solution of the Euler-Lagrange equations in nonlinear elasticity is already a global minimizer of the corresponding elastic energy functional. This criterion is applicable to energies which are convex with respect to the right Cauchy-Green tensor , where denotes the gradient of deformation. Examples of such energies exhibiting a blow up for are given.
DEM modeling of particle breakage in silica sands under one-dimensional compression
- Authors: Shi, Danda , Zheng, Lin , Xue, Jianfeng , Sun, Jing
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Acta Mechanica Solida Sinica Vol. 29, no. 1 (2016), p. 78-94
- Full Text: false
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- Description: A Discrete Element Method (DEM) model is developed to study the particle breakage effect on the one-dimensional compression behavior of silica sands. The 'maximum tensile stress' breakage criterion considering multiple contacts is adopted to simulate the crushing of circular particles in the DEM. The model is compared with published experimental results. Comparison between the compression curves obtained from the numerical and experimental results shows that the proposed method is very effective in studying the compression behavior of silica sands considering particle breakage. The evolution of compression curves at different stress levels is extensively studied using contact force distribution, variation of contact number and particle size distribution curve with loading. It is found that particle breakage has great impact on compression behavior of sand, particularly after the yield stress is reached and particle breakage starts. The crushing probability of particles is found to be macroscopically affected by stress level and particle size distribution curve, and microscopically related to the evolutions of contact force and coordination number. Once the soil becomes well-graded and the average coordination number is greater than 4 in two-dimension, the crushing probability of parent particles can reduce by up to 5/6. It is found that the average contact force does not always increase with loading, but increases to a peak value then decreases once the soil becomes more well-graded. It is found through the loading rate sensitivity analysis that the compression behavior of sand samples in the DEM is also affected by the loading rate. Higher yield stresses are obtained at higher loading rates. © 2016 The Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics.
Crack propagation modelling in functionally graded materials using scaled boundary polygons
- Authors: Ooi, Ean Tat , Natarajan, Sundararajan , Song, Chongmin , Tin-Loi, Francis
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Fracture Vol. Online first, no. 192 (2015), p. 87-105
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: A recently developed scaled boundary finite element formulation that can model the response of functionally graded materials is further developed to model crack propagation in two-dimensions. This formulation can accurately model the stress singularity at the crack tip in heterogeneous materials. The asymptotic behaviour at the crack tip is analytically represented in the scaled boundary shape functions of a cracked polygon. This enables accurate stress intensity factors to be computed directly from their definitions. Neither local mesh refinement nor asymptotic enrichment functions are required. This novel formulation can be implemented on polygons with an arbitrary number of sides. When modelling crack propagation, the remeshing process is more flexible and leads to only minimal changes to the global mesh structure. Six numerical examples involving crack propagation in functionally graded materials are modelled to demonstrate the salient features of the developed method.
Crack propagation modelling in functionally graded materials using scaled boundary polygons
- Authors: Ooi, Ean Tat , Natarajan, Sundararajan , Song, Chongmin , Tin-Loi, Francis
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Fracture Vol. 192, no. 1 (2015), p. 87-105
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: A recently developed scaled boundary finite element formulation that can model the response of functionally graded materials is further developed to model crack propagation in two-dimensions. This formulation can accurately model the stress singularity at the crack tip in heterogeneous materials. The asymptotic behaviour at the crack tip is analytically represented in the scaled boundary shape functions of a cracked polygon. This enables accurate stress intensity factors to be computed directly from their definitions. Neither local mesh refinement nor asymptotic enrichment functions are required. This novel formulation can be implemented on polygons with an arbitrary number of sides. When modelling crack propagation, the remeshing process is more flexible and leads to only minimal changes to the global mesh structure. Six numerical examples involving crack propagation in functionally graded materials are modelled to demonstrate the salient features of the developed method. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
Modelling of crack propagation of gravity dams by scaled boundary polygons and cohesive crack model
- Authors: Shi, Mingguang , Zhong, Hong , Ooi, Ean Tat , Zhang, Chuhan , Song, Chongmin
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Fracture Vol. 183, no. 1 (2013), p. 29-48
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Crack propagation in concrete gravity dams is investigated using scaled boundary polygons coupled with interface elements. The concrete bulk is assumed to be linear elastic and is modelled by the scaled boundary polygons. The interface elements model the fracture process zone between the crack faces. The cohesive tractions are modelled as side-face tractions in the scaled boundary polygons. The solution of the stress field around the crack tip is expressed semi-analytically as a power series. It reproduces the singular and higher-order terms in an asymptotic solution, such as the William's eigenfunction expansion when the cohesive tractions vanish. Accurate results can be obtained without asymptotic enrichment or local mesh refinement. The stress intensity factors are obtained directly from their definition and provide a convenient and accurate means to assess the zero-K condition, which determines the stability of a cohesive crack. The direction of crack propagation is determined from the maximum circumferential stress criterion. To accommodate crack propagation, a local remeshing algorithm that is applicable to any polygon mesh is augmented by inserting cohesive interface elements between the crack surfaces as the cracks propagate. Three numerical benchmarks involving crack propagation in concrete gravity dams are modelled. The results are compared to the experimental and other numerical simulations reported in the literature. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
A stress-strain model for uniaxial and confined concrete under compression
- Authors: Samani, Ali Khajeh , Attard, Mario
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Engineering Structures Vol. 41, no. (2012), p. 335-349
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Analytical models for the full stress-strain relationship of confined and unconfined concrete in compression are required for the numerical simulation of the structural behavior of reinforced concrete structural elements. There are many analytical models presented in the literature, which are generally empirical and are based on tests either on plain concrete specimens or reinforced concrete columns. This paper reviews some widely used analytical models calibrated using triaxial test results on plain concrete and compares their predictions with available test data on uniaxial and triaxial compression on specimens with different specimen height, width or diameter and concrete strength. The model prediction's for the peak stress and corresponding strain due to confinement are also compared. The residual stress level and the post-peak fracture energy under confinement are discussed. Estimates of the post-peak fracture energy per unit area are obtained from available experimental data showing that the post-peak fracture energy varies with confinement. The size effect on the softening behavior of uniaxial and triaxially loaded plain concrete specimens with different aspect ratios, heights and level of confinement, are also discussed. A new analytical model for unconfined and confined concrete is introduced which tries to address the limitations in previous models. The proposed model is capable of predicting the behavior of normal strength concrete, as well as high strength concrete and incorporates allowances for size effects dependent on specimen height and aspect ratio. Comparisons are made between the proposed new model, the models of others in the literature, and available compression triaxial and uniaxial test results. © 2012.
Dynamic cohesive crack propagation modelling using the scaled boundary finite element method
- Authors: Ooi, Ean Tat , Yang, Zhenjun , Guo, Zaoyang
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Fatigue and Fracture of Engineering Materials and Structures Vol. 35, no. 8 (2012), p. 786-800
- Full Text: false
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- Description: This study develops a scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM)-based approach for modelling fast cohesive crack propagation in quasi-brittle materials subjected to transient dynamic loadings. In this approach, the elastic bulk material is modelled by SBFEM subdomains and the cracks by nonlinear cohesive interface finite elements that are automatically inserted by a remeshing procedure. The global equation system is solved using an implicit time integration algorithm. Because all the solutions (displacements, stresses, velocities, accelerations) are semi-analytical in an SBFEM subdomain, this approach offers a few advantages over other methods, such as accurate calculation of dynamic stress intensity factors and T-stress without using fine crack-tip meshes, simpler remeshing, more accurate and efficient mesh mapping, and the need of much fewer degrees of freedom for the same accuracy. The approach is validated by modelling two concrete beams under impact, subjected to mode-I and mixed-mode fracture, respectively. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.