Repeated Load Triaxial Testing of Recycled Excavation Materials Blended with Recycled Phyllite Materials

Recycled Excavation Materials (REM) are becoming viable alternative construction resources due to their economic benefits. However, REM may be composed of weak rocks, e.g., phyllites, limiting the use in a base layer. The present paper attempts to further the knowledge of the mechanical performance of REM by performing Repeated Load Triaxial Tests (RLTT). REM are mixed with Recycled Phyllite Materials (RPM) in systematic blends of 0%, 25%, 50%, and 100%. The batches’ resilient modulus (MR) and permanent deformation (PD) characteristics were assessed to establish the maximum RPM allowed into REM while maintaining the required performance. Hicks and Monismith’s and Uzan’s models were used to characterize the stiffness behavior. A wide variation in the stiffness between the two materials was observed. Batches comprised of 0% RPM–100% REM and 25% RPM–75% REM showed high stiffness performance. The Coulomb model assessed the PD behavior, and the results showed a similar response for all batches. Unlike the stiffness, blended mixtures did not show sensitivity to increased RPM content in the PD. This study may help end-users to understand the performance of REM given the documented threshold on the allowable quantity of RPM in REM.

Numerical Simulation of the Effect of Repeated Load and Waste Polypropylene on the Behavior of Asphalt Layers

Roads are utilized by many vehicle kinds and heavy vehicles among these may be seen as the most essential for cargo loading, causing paving failure and increasing expenses for rehabilitation and maintenance. In this study, in analyzing a finite element employing Abaqus 6.14, composite effects for wheel loads and temperature were addressed. The asphalt layer was designed as an elastic material, while the base and sub-bases were modeled according to the Mohr coulomb model like an elastic material. And studying the impact of wheel loads on flexible pavement settlement and the main output of analyzing pavement structure is almost represented by the vertical stresses and the surface deformation which are considered as the critical response point. A truck type 2S-2 was tried with two thicknesses of asphalt layer 140 mm and 250 mm and considering that base and subbase layer thicknesses remained constant so it does not affect the variation of displacement. It was found that the increase of asphalt layer thickness from 140 mm to 250 mm leads to a decrease in the vertical displacement of about 0.59% and studied the effect of modified asphalt with polymer and how it effect pavement vertical displacement with an obvious reduction from 0.590 mm to 0.265 mm under the repeated load of 36 ton and The vertical stress decreased from 5.036 kPa to 1.899 kPa

Performance Studies on Stone Mastic Asphalt Mixes with Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement

Stone mastic asphalt (SMA) is a gap graded mix which is categorised by more quantity of coarse aggregate, high asphalt content and fibre. Due to stone on stone contact and presences of high filler content, it acts as a stiff matrix and reduces the rutting due to heavy traffic load. This research presents a study on fatigue performance RAP replaced SMA mixes using VG 30 as binder along with elastomer as a modifier and results were compared with conventional SMA mix. The specimens prepared were tested using several laboratory test procedures: Marshall mix design, indirect tensile strength, moisture susceptibility, drain down test and Repeated load fatigue test. Test results showed Marshall Properties of the RAP mix improved up to a RAP content of 30% without elastomer modifier and RAP content up to 60% with elastomeric modifier. From the moisture susceptibility test results, the elastomeric modified SMA mix showed high resistance to moisture damage when compared to conventional mix and 30% RAP replacement mix. Repeated load fatigue test was conducted for different stress load and temperature and results showed elastomeric modified SMA mix offered high resistance to deformation across all stress level and temperature when compared to conventional and optimum RAP mix. As a fatigue loading increased resulted in decrease of number of fatigue cycles and increased in the initial tensile strain of the mix. As the percentage of RAP addition increased the initial tensile strain decreased.

Novel quantification of the regional strain distribution in the anterior cruciate ligament in response to simulated loading using micro-CT imaging

Purpose A large percentage of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgical reconstructions experience sub-optimal outcomes within 2 years. A potential factor contributing to poor outcomes is an incomplete understanding of micro-level, regional ACL biomechanics. This research aimed to demonstrate a minimally invasive method that uses micro-CT imaging to quantify regional ACL strains under clinically relevant joint loading. Methods A pattern of 0.8 mm diameter zirconium dioxide beads were arthroscopically inserted into four regions of the ACL of four cadaveric knee specimens (mean [SD] age = 59 [9] years). A custom micro-CT compatible joint motion simulator then applied clinically relevant joint loading conditions, while an image was acquired at each condition. From the resulting images, strains within each region were calculated using the centroid coordinates of each tissue-embedded bead. Strain repeatability was assessed using the mean intra-specimen standard deviation across repeated load applications. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA (α = 0.05) was used to determine regional strain variations. Results The mean intra-specimen standard deviation across repeated load application was ±0.003 strain for all specimens. No statistically significant differences were found between tissue regions, although medium and large effect sizes (0.095–0.450) suggest that these differences may be clinically relevant. Conclusions The method presented here demonstrates a minimally invasive measurement of regional ACL strain under clinically relevant joint loads using micro-CT imaging. The strain measurements demonstrated excellent reliability across the five repeated load applications and suggest a non-homogenous distribution of strain through the ACL.

A Comparison between Static and Repeated Load Test to Predict Asphalt Concrete Rut Depth

Rutting has a significant impact on the pavements' performance. Rutting depth is often used as a parameter to assess the quality of pavements. The Asphalt Institute (AI) design method prescribes a maximum allowable rutting depth of 13mm, whereas the AASHTO design method stipulates a critical serviceability index of 2.5 which is equivalent to an average rutting depth of 15mm. In this research, static and repeated compression tests were performed to evaluate the permanent strain based on (1) the relationship between mix properties (asphalt content and type), and (2) testing temperature. The results indicated that the accumulated plastic strain was higher during the repeated load test than that during the static load tests. Notably, temperature played a major role. The power-law model was used to describe the relationship between the accumulated permanent strain and the number of load repetitions. Furthermore, graphical analysis was performed using VESYS 5W to predict the rut depth for the asphalt concrete layer. The α and µ parameters affected the predicted rut depth significantly. The results show a substantial difference between the two tests, indicating that the repeated load test is more adequate, useful, and accurate when compared with the static load test for the evaluation of the rut depth.

Shear Resistance Assessment of the Y-Type Perfobond Rib Shear Connector under Repeated Loadings

The steel–concrete composite structures consist of two different material parts, which are connected with reliable shear connectors to enable the combined action of the steel and concrete members. The shear connectors may experience either one-directional repeated cyclic loadings or fully reversed cyclic loadings depending on the structural functions and acting loadings. It is essential for structural engineers to estimate the residual shear strength of the shear connectors after action of repeated loads. The characteristics of deteriorating shear capacities of Y-type perfobond rib shear connectors under repeated loads were investigated to estimate the energy dissipating capacity as well as the residual shear strength after repeated loads. To perform the repeated load experiments four different intensities of repeated loads were selected based on the monotonic push-out tests which were performed with 15 specimens with five different design variables. The selected load levels range from 35% to 65% of the representative ultimate shear strength under the monotonic load. In total, 12 specimens were tested under five different repeated load types which were applied to observe the energy dissipating characteristics under various load intensities. It was found that the dissipated energy per cycle becomes stable and converges with the increasing number of cycles. A design formula to estimate the residual shear strength after the repeated loads was proposed, which is based on the residual shear strength factor and the nominal ultimate shear strength of the fresh Y-type perfobond rib shear connectors. The design residual shear strength was computed from the number of repeated loads and the energy dissipation amount per cycle. The reduction factor for the design residual shear strength was also proposed considering the target reliability level. The various reduction factors for the design residual shear strength were derived based on the probabilistic characteristics of the residual shear strength as well as the energy dissipation due to repeated loads.

YIELD STRESS UNDER REPEATED LOADING AFTER APPLYING DIFFERENT DEFORMATION PATH FOR LARGE TENSION AND SHEAR

This paper describes the yield phenomenon when a repeated loading is applied to the structure after giving a large pre-strain on it. In the series of our previous research, focusing on the fundamental deformations such as tension or shear, changes of yield stress as the number of repetition increases have been investigated experimentally by using test specimens of annealed pure copper. In the determination of yield stress value, the method by using slope of stress-strain curve at yield has been used instead of proof stress. As a consequence, it has been found that if the type of pre-deformation and the type of deformation in repeated load are the same, yield stress at the pre-deformation side has a declining tendency as compared with opposite side. Therefore, it is predicted that the yield stress under repeated loading after applying a large deformation is closely related to the loading history in large deformation previously applied. Thus, in this study, in order to clarify the influence of pre-deformation on the yield behavior under repeated loading, the experiments are performed by changing the order of tension and shear in pre-deformation. Consequentially, it is clarified that the declining tendency of yield stress under repeated loading is closely related to the yield surface anisotropy, which is formed during the second half of the pre-deformation.