Mixed Visual and Machine Grading to Select Eucalyptus grandis Poles into High-Strength Classes

Before round timber can be profitably used in construction, it needs structural characterization. The visual grading of Eucalyptus grandis poles was integrated with additional parameters developed by multivariate regression analysis. Acoustic velocity and dynamic modulus of elasticity were combined with density and pole diameter in the estimation of bending strength and stiffness. The best models achieved were used to group the visually graded material into qualitative structural classes. Overall, dynamic modulus of elasticity was the best single predictor; and adding density and diameter to the model improved the estimation of strength but not of stiffness. The developed parameters separated the material into two classes with very distinct mechanical properties. The models including velocity as a parameter did not perform as well. The strength grading of Eucalyptus grandis poles can be effectively improved by combining visual parameters and nondestructive measurements. The determination of the dynamic modulus of elasticity as a grading parameter should be preferred over that of acoustic velocity.

Temperature dependence of dynamic and static modulus of elasticity of lightweight expanded clay aggregate concrete

The paper presents experimental research the static and dynamic modulus of elasticity of lightweight expanded clay aggregate concrete with averaged density of 1000 kg/m3. The static and dynamic modulus are obtained depending on the influence of temperature in the range from 5 to 50 °C with a step of 15 °C. The dynamic modulus was determined without pre-compression with a testing machine Asphalt Mixture Performance Tester. Besides the modulus of elasticity of lightweight concrete, the temperature dependence of unconfined compressive strength was also determined. Analysis of experimental data showed that with an increase in temperature, strength and modulus of elasticity slightly decrease, which is typical for concretes. For all cases, the temperature dependence can be characterized according to the linear law. Comparison of the static and dynamic modulus of elasticity showed that the dynamic modulus is 60-74% greater than the static modulus over the entire range of the studied temperatures.

Impact of the curing conditions and carbon dioxide ingress on heavyweight concrete

The present work investigates the influence of curing conditions on the mechanical and physical properties of heavyweight concrete. The prismatic bars of 40 mm × 40 mm × 160 mm dimension were cured in a climatic chamber (relative humidity 30%, average temperature 26°C), wet (100% of humidity, average room temperature 26°C) and CO2 chamber-wet (relative humidity 90%, average temperature 50°C and average CO2 concentration 20 %) conditions for 2, 7, 28 and 90 days. Density, compressive strength, dynamic modulus of elasticity, and longitudinal shrinkage were determined at different ages of curing. Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry was used to analyze and determine the influence of carbonation on pore structure evolution. Samples cured under CO2-wet conditions showed a higher compressive strength (54.05, 66.83, 84.98, 96.35 MPa) compared to that of the samples exposed to wet (45.49, 65.87, 78.91, 93.80 MPa) and dry (39.62, 46.52, 48.45, 45.28 MPa) conditions at all ages. The dynamic modulus of elasticity of CO2-wet cured samples (53.02, 51.48, 59.24, 67.60 GPa) was lower than that of samples cured in wet conditions (59.82, 66.76, 78.84, 80.27, GPa), but higher than that of dry-cured samples (45.74, 45.73, 43.91, 44.62 GPa). The density of the samples exposed to all curing conditions was higher than 3800 kg/m3. Carbonation led to a decrease in total porosity (from 10% to 20%) and an increase in density (from 320 to 390 kg/m3). Also, the time and curing conditions have strongly influenced the pore structure. The precipitation of calcium carbonate in the matrix of concrete and the acceleration of hydration reaction under wet conditions has led to a decrease in porosity.

Vibrational characteristics of four wood species commonly used in wood products

The effects of the moisture content, density, and striking direction of a hammer on the vibrational characteristics, i.e., the fundamental frequency and dynamic modulus of elasticity, of four wood species, i.e., poplar (Populus tomentosa), mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni), beech (Fagus orientalis), and ash (Fraxinus excelsior), commonly used in wood products were investigated, aiming to provide basic evidence for the nondestructive testing of wood materials. The results showed that the effect of the wood species on the fundamental frequency, dynamic modulus of elasticity, and static modulus of elasticity was statistically significant. The dynamic moduli of elasticity of the four wood species were higher than the corresponding static moduli of elasticity. The effect of the striking direction on the dynamic modulus of elasticity was not significant, indicating that no matter where the hammer struck, i.e., radial and tangential surfaces, the fundamental frequency was essentially constant. Negative relationships were found between the fundamental frequency and the density and moisture when the data of the four wood species were viewed as a population sample. The vibrational characteristics of each wood species varied, which can be applied to the nondestructive testing of wood.

DURABILITY PROPERTIES OF RECYCLED CONCRETE WITH LITHIUM SLAG UNDER FREEZE-THAW CYCLES

A water freeze-thaw cycle and sulfate freeze-thaw coupling cycle were explored experimentally to evaluate the durability of recycled concrete with lithium slag (LS). The damage-deterioration law was studied from the aspects of mass-change rate, relative dynamic modulus of elasticity, and cube’s compressive strength. Based on the relative dynamic modulus of elasticity, the damage-degree equation of the concrete was fitted, and a mechanical-attenuation model related to this parameter and the cube’s compressive strength was established and verified. The damage mechanism under the action of the sulfate freeze-thaw cycle was revealed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The combination of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) and LS was beneficial to the anti-deterioration ability of the concrete. During the cycle experiments, the mass and relative dynamic modulus of elasticity increased initially and then decreased, while the cube’s compressive strength declined continually. The concrete with a 30 % RCA substitution rate and 20 % LS exhibited the optimal comprehensive durability, and specimens with excessive LS showed more susceptibility to sulfate erosion. The residual compressive strength of concrete structures can be evaluated by measuring the relative dynamic modulus of elasticity as the two parameters are ideally correlated.

Diagnosis and Assessment of Deep Pile Cap Foundation of a Tall Building Affected by Internal Expansion Reactions

Early deterioration of reinforced concrete foundations has been often reported in recent years. This process is usually characterized by an extensive mapping cracking process on concrete surfaces that results from several types of Internal Swelling Reaction (ISR). In this paper, a real case study of a tall reinforced concrete building with a severe deterioration process installed in its deep foundations is discussed. Laboratory tests were performed in concrete drilled cores extracted from a deep pile cap block 19 years after the beginning of construction. Tests to assess the compressive strength, the static and the dynamic modulus of elasticity, the gas permeability, and electron microscopy scanning to find out the primary mechanism responsible for the deterioration observed during in situ inspections. Chemical alterations of materials were observed in concrete cores, mainly due to Delayed Ettringite Formation (DEF), which significantly affected the integrity and durability of the structure. Dynamic modulus of elasticity showed to be a better indicator of damage induced by ISR in concrete than compressive strength. Procedures to strengthen the deteriorated elements using prestressing proved to be an efficient strategy to recover the structural integrity of pile caps deteriorated due to expansions due to ISR.

Applying Machine Strength Grading System to Round Timber Used in Hydraulic Engineering Works

Round timber is often used for hydraulic engineering works, but the strength grading of round logs is not as well developed as that of sawn timber. The advantages of using defined strength classes, as well as the proper selection of the raw material, could be applicable to hydraulic works as well. In this study, the methods and rules developed for sawn timber were applied to the mechanical selection of oak round logs, paying particular attention to the issue of the simplicity of grading operations and the moisture content of the timber. Both the acoustic velocity and dynamic modulus of elasticity of oak logs were measured with different instruments before performing destructive bending tests; machine settings were derived for both properties and dry and wet grading operations were simulated to compare efficiency. The use of the dynamic modulus of elasticity makes machine grading more efficient. On the other hand, the use of acoustic velocity alone is feasible and makes the procedure much faster, even if wet grading resulted in very conservative estimations. The yields obtained were similar for lower grades, but to achieve higher strength classes, the dynamic modulus was preferable. For very fast and less expensive measurements, velocity could be considered an appropriate method, as an improvement over the use of unselected material.

Investigation of mechanical properties of polymer impregnated concrete containing polypropylene fiber by taguchi and anova methods

The mechanical properties of polymer impregnated concrete containing polypropylene fiber were statistically and experimentally examined in this study. Taguchi L9 (33) was used in this study. The variables used for experiments were selected as the polypropylene fiber ratio (0%, 1% and 2%), cement dosage (300, 350 and 400 kg/m3) and curing time (7, 14 and 28 days). After the specimens were cured at the specified curing times, they were dried at 105 ±5 °C. Then, the monomer was impregnated to the specimens for 24 hours under atmospheric conditions. The samples for the polymerization of monomer was kept within the drying oven at 60 °C for 6 hours. The compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity tests of specimens, in which polymerization was applied, was conducted. Furthermore, the dynamic modulus of elasticity of samples was calculated using the ultrasonic pulse velocity. The Taguchi analysis found that the best values for the ultrasonic pulse velocity, dynamic modulus of elasticity and compressive strength were 28 days for curing, 1% for the polypropylene fiber percentage and 400 kg/m3 for the cement dosage. The Anova analysis found that the polypropylene fiber percentage had the biggest effect on the mechanical properties of polymer impregnated concrete containing polypropylene fiber.

ANALYSIS OF SOUND SPEED IN LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION AT REFERENCE MOISTURE CONTENT (w = 12 %) IN SAWMILL ASSORTMENTS (FAGUS SYLVATICA, L.)

This paper explores the analysis of sound speeds in the longitudinal direction and their reduction to the reference moisture content w = 12 %. The sound speed cw was determined with Sylvatest Duo device. Moisture content of beech sawmill assortments (round timber: N = 16, logs: N = 2 × 16, structural boards: N = 54) in the range of 12 – 72 % was measured. For the analysis purposes, the sound speed was converted to reference conditions (c12, uref = 12%). A second-degree polynomial (parabola) with a regression equation of the form: c// = 5649 - 27,371 × w + 0.0735 × w2 was used to convert cw to c12, and correction of measured and calculated values was used as well. The sound speeds c12 in sawmill assortments (c12,round, c12,log, c12,board) were evaluated by linear dependences. Dependence was not confirmed for c12,round and c12,board1 (r = 0.168), in contrast for c12,round and c12,log2 the dependence is statistically very significant (r = 0.634). The results of testing showed that the most suitable procedure for predicting quality of structural timber is the first step round timber – log2, the second step: log2 - board2. More exact results of the construction boards were obtained from log2 than from log1. The sound speed is used in the calculation of dynamic modulus of elasticity (Edyn). EN 408 mentions the possibility of using dynamic modulus of elasticity as an alternative method in predicting the quality of structural timber.