Effect of Steel Fiber on Concrete’s Compressive Strength

The general goal of this research is to investigate whether steel fiber has a significant “positive” or “negative” influence on concrete compressive strength, as well as the optimal steel fiber ratio that delivers best result. Manually, cement, fine aggregates, coarse aggregates, steel fibers, and water were mixed together properly. A slump test was carried on the mixed concrete. After determining the workability, the mixed concrete was poured into cubes dimension 150 mm × 150 mm × 150 mm and left for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the samples were removed from the mold and placed in a water tank to cure for 7 to 28 days. The cube was tested for compressive and flexural strength in a universal testing machine after the samples had cured for the required 7 - 28 days. This study focuses on how to obtain high strength concrete using with steel fiber in the Conventional mix ratio to enhance concrete strength. Concrete reinforcement using steel fibers alters the characteristics of the concrete, allowing it to withstand fracture and hence improve its mechanical qualities. This study reports on an experimental study that reveals the effect of steel fiber on concrete compressive strength and the optimal steel fiber ratio that produces the best results. Steel fiber reinforcing improved the compressive strength of concrete. The average compressive strength of normal M25 concrete with 0% steel fibers and curing ages of 7 and 28 days was determined to be 22.97 N/mm2 and 25.78 N/mm2, respectively. The steel fibers are then added in various concentrations, such as 1%, 2%, and 3%, with aspect ratios of 70. The compressive strength of concrete with 1%, 2%, and 3% steel fiber with an aspect ratio of 70 was examined at 7 days and found to be 23.96, 24.80, and 26.14 N/mm2 correspondingly.

A low-cost and high-strength basalt/carbon fiber reinforced polymer improved by imitating tree-root micro/nano aramid short fiber

The high-strength Basalt Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer(BCFRP)composites had been manufactured by guiding Imitating Tree-root Micro/Nano Aramid Short Fiber(ITMNASF)into the interlayer of Basalt Fiber(BF)and Carbon Fiber(CF)plies to form thin interleaving,and various mass proportions of IT-MNASF were designed to discuss the reinforcing effect on the BCFRP heterogeneous composites.The results of three points bending tests showed that flexural strength and energy absorption of 4wt%IT-MNASF reinforced BCFRP heterogeneous composites had been improved by 32.4%and 134.4%respectively compared with that of unreinforced specimens.The 4wt%IT-MNASF reinforced BCFRP specimens showed both a greater strength and a lower cost(reduced by 31%around)than that of plain CFRP composites.X-ray micro-computed tomography scanning results exhibited that the delamination-dominated failure of plain BCFRP composites was changed into multi-layer BF and CF fabrics damage.The reinforcing mechanism revealed that the introduced IT-MNASF could construct quasi-vertical fiber bridging,and it was used as"mechanical claws"to grasp adjacent fiber layers for creating a stronger mechanical interlocking,and this effectively improved resin-rich region and interfacial transition region at the interlayers.The simple and effective IT-MNASF interleaving technique was very successful in low-cost and high-strength development of BCFRP heterogeneous composites.

Physical-mechanical properties of microbially induced calcite precipitation-treated loess and treatment mechanism

Loess disintegration can lead to geotechnical engineering problems,e.g.,slope erosion,wetting-induced landslide,and hydroconsolidation.Microbially induced calcite precipitation(MICP)technique is a potential loess reinforcing method.This study investigated the physical-mechanical properties of MICP-treated loess and then explored the mechanism of loess modification by MICP.Here,loess first underwent MICP treatment,i.e.,mixing loess with Sporosarcina pasteurii and cementation solution(CS).Then,the effects of the CS concentration(0.2,0.6,0.8,and 1 M)on the physical and mechanical properties of the MICP-treated loess were tested.Finally,the static contact angle test,scanning electron microscopy(SEM),and X-ray diffractometry(XRD)were conducted to study the mechanism of MICP treatment on loess.Results showed the following property changes of loess after MICP treatment:the liquid limit decreased by 1.7%,the average particle size increased from 6 to 47μm,the specific gravity decreased from 2.65 to 2.43,the unconfined compressive strength increased from 37 to 71 k Pa,and the disintegration time increased from 10 to 25 min.Besides,the shear strength also increased,and the shear strength parameters(cohesion c and internal friction angle?)varied with the CS concentration.The static contact angle tests indicated that the water absorption ability of loess was reduced after MICP treatment.SEM and XRD results verified that the CaCO_(3)from MICP was attributed to the above results.The above findings explained the mechanism of MICP treatment of loess:the CaCO_(3)coats and cements the particles,and fills the pores of loess,improving the strength and water stability of loess.

A practical model for efficient anti-fatigue design and selection of metallic materials:Ⅱ.Parameter analysis and fatigue strength improvement

In the first paper,a Y-T-F model was proposed based on the restrictions of both strength and plasticity;the corresponding applications on the fatigue strength prediction have also been discussed.In this second paper,the emphasis will be put on the issues of fatigue strength improvement.Based on the primary form of the Y-T-F model,the parameters are further analyzed and quantified,to clarify the influences of various factors on fatigue strength.Firstly,the damage capacity C is proved to be sensitive to the elastic modulus E,which could change with the alloying components and nano-scaled grain boundaries;the increase of E would lead to the increasing C,thus increase the fatigue strength.Secondly,the microstructure characteristic coefficient a,as well as the yield strengthσ_(y) and tensile strengthσ_(b) in the crack initiation region could be influenced by the processing mode,grain size and microstructure uniformity of materials;the change of microstructure characteristics would affect the changing tendency of tensile strength--fatigue strength relation via varying the values of a,σ_(y) andσ_(b).Thirdly,the damage weight coefficientωis found to be a reflection of the fatigue strength declination induced by defects;the defect dimension D,the defect shape correlated stress concentration coefficient Kt,as well as the strengthening level of matrix materialsσ_(b) are all corresponding factors.Quantified correlations between the above parameters and corresponding factors are comprehensively built up,hence obtaining the influences of either a single factor or multiple factors on fatigue strength.This further developed Y-T-F model would be helpful to clarify the direction of fatigue strength improvement,and contribute to the anti-fatigue design optimization of metallic materials.

Optimized Mechanical Properties,Corrosion Resistance and Bactericidal Ability of Ti-15Zr-xCu Biomedical Alloys During Aging Treatment

The effects of different aging conditions on the microstructure,strength,corrosion resistance,cytotoxicity and antibacterial ability of Ti-15Zr-xCu(3≤x≤7,wt%)(TZC)alloys were systematically investigated.Microstructural evolution and behavior were analyzed by X-ray diffraction(XRD)patterns and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy(SEM-EDS),while potentiodynamic polarization technique was employed to characterize the corrosion response of the alloys after solution-treatment and aging(STA).High-temperature aging at 660℃ for 4 h(660-4)gave the best combination of properties by enabling significant precipitation of the Cu-rich Ti_(2)Cu and Zr_(2)Cu compounds,and mild formation of the Zr_(7)Cu_(10) secondary phase.The high kinetics at this condition was beneficial to the complete precipitation and more homogeneous distribution of the intermetallic particles.These led to the inhibition of dislocation movements and allowed for significantly improved mechanical strengths with added ductility,availability of more Cu ions for the desired oligodynamic activity without evoking cytotoxicity,better corrosion resistance and very high antibacterial ability(over 99.5%),thus improving the overall properties of the TZC alloys for biomedical applications.