Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Civil engineering material testing'

With exponential global population growth occurring and associated environmentally destructive consumption of natural resources, alternative materials that are fast growing and sustainable are being sought out to satisfy human needs. One material that is fast growing and sustainable that can be used to meet most basic needs of humans (i.e. shelter, food, tools) is the plant bamboo, of the grass family Poaceae. Bamboo was used in the past by native peoples who lived in the environment where bamboo natively grows (all continents except Europe and Antarctica) with proven success for uses such as shelter, piping, tools, wells, food, fencing, baskets and much more. These practices were mostly abandoned and deemed obsolete due to the introduction of long lasting ‘modern’ building materials of steel and concrete which gained popularity in the 1800s. Now, in the current century with much advancement in science, technology, and education, humanity is reconsidering many practices and returning to more ancient practices and ways that are better for human health, the environment, and overall sustainability. These environmental considerations are drivers of this research, which focuses on how to use bamboo for engineering applications. First, in order to use a material for engineering and design applications, a material must be destructively tested to attain material property values. Therefore, a critical examination of the bamboo mechanical property values published literature was performed. It was found that although many scientists all over the world have been working on mechanical property testing of bamboo, their results have been published in different journals, in different languages, and had not yet been aggregated and compared. This led to the first study in this work that analyzed mechanical property data from 43 bamboo peer-reviewed publications written in English, Spanish, and Portuguese (the three main languages in which bamboo literature is published). This study focused on aggregating mechanical property values, establishing a range of values for each property as well as an average, and correlating the difference in property values to bamboo variables stated in bamboo literature (age, bamboo species, density, moisture content, post-harvest treatment, and testing standard employed). The five mechanical properties reviewed were: shear strength, compressive strength, tensile strength, bending strength / modulus of rupture (MOR), and modulus of elasticity (MOE) and their average values were 9 MPa, 52 MPa, 159 MPa, 120 MPa, and 16 GPa, respectively. Although a thorough graphical set of analyses were performed attempting to correlate the difference in mechanical property values to the previously listed variables, and only main variables found to influence strength values were moisture content and specific testing standard employed. The results of the high range of mechanical property values with no variable with which to separate the results to lower the range, led to the second part of the research. It incorporated the high range of values reported in the literature but was able to establish safety factors and reduction factors alongside corresponding failure rates. This work allows for a designer to use bamboo culms choosing a failure rate he/she deems appropriate for structural bamboo construction. The analyses in this work were performed using Allowable Stress Design (ASD) and Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) equations applied to bamboo as well as Monte Carlo statistical analyses for verification. The raw data and statistically analyzed data of 25 publications were used for this analysis, yielding 3806 strength test values (shear strength, compressive strength, bending strength / modulus of rupture, and tensile strength). Shear strength safety factors ranged from 1.38-3.58 for failure ratios from 1:6-1:25000; compressive strength from 1.30-2.79; bending strength from 1.43-4.03; tensile strength from 1.66-7.43. No singular safety factor is suggested for design as that is due to the judgment of the designer of what failure ratio he/she deems appropriate for the specific application. Although many compression tests have been performed on bamboo, there are no known tests which destructively test bamboo after an extended period of time after harvesting (more than ~3 months). This experiment conducted a field experiment to test the functionality of using bamboo for the application of installing bamboo wells to provide groundwater. The bamboo tested in the third part of the study was of two species, Dendrocalamus giganteus and Dendrocalamus asper half of which were 1) air-dried in a laboratory for 3.5 years and the other half of which was 2) inserted in the ground as bamboo wells. The bamboo culms (or poles) had been separately treated in three different ways right after cutting: 1/3 with a borax and boric acid solution (most conventional treatment in the industry), 1/3 with coconut oil (experimental treatment in the literature), and 1/3 air-dried, a non-treated control. Bamboo wells are said to be used in ancient times as well as in more recent applications in the 1990s in India by small scale farmers. The publication of bamboo well studies have been very few and nearly no scientific analyses had been performed on them. Therefore, six bamboo wells were assembled and installed at the University of South Florida Geopark, the first of their kind in the U.S. These wells were half of species D. giganteus and half of species D. asper and also treated individually using the three different treatments described above. The wells were monitored for pH and presence of leached boron for a 3.5-year monitoring period and then removed. Upon removal, the bamboo well casings were examined for molds present as well as by mechanical compression testing to assess degradation in comparison to each other (of different treatments) and to air-dried control samples maintained in the laboratory for 3.5 years. The mold fc. Acrodictys was observed to cover the entire inner portion of the bamboo (inner diameter), from the surface level up to the water table. The lab air-dried control samples had compression strength and compressive modulus of elasticity values correlating to those found in the literature, 44-90 MPa (72 MPa average) and 15-31 GPa, respectively. Removed well samples exhibited compressive strengths and compressive modulus of elasticity values of 22-61 MPa (39 MPa average) and 7-25 GPa, respectively. This study revealed that bamboo wells were feasible and although their compressive strengths lowered by around a half after being in the ground for 3.5 years, their compressive strength and compressive modulus of elasticity values were still in the range of bamboo tested in the literature.

The behavior of cemented sands is examined experimentally and theoretically in this study. The first segment of the investigation involves an extensive laboratory program to examine the effects of slenderness ratio, effects of cementation, and effects of confining pressure on the stress-strain curves of cemented sands. Results show that specimens with slenderness ratio of 1.5 or greater exhibit lower strength, higher dilatation rates, and relatively brittle behavior when compared to samples with slenderness ratio of 1. Furthermore, cemented sands have an essentially straight line Mohr-Coulomb failure envelope, whose cohesion intercept increases with the degree of cementation of the soil. The effective friction angles measured for cemented sands with various cementation levels are in the same ranges as the effective friction angle evaluated for uncemented sands. Moreover, failure modes of the material varies from brittle to ductile depending upon the level of cementation and the degree of confinement. In general, as cementation increases, cemented sand exhibits a brittle failure behavior; while increasing the confining pressure causes a ductile failure response. The second portion of the project includes development of a constitutive model for cemented sands. Cemented sand is viewed as a multi-phase material comprising three phases: sand, cement, and pore water. The elastoplastic behavior of cemented sands is the consequence of the behavior of the individual phases plus the interaction of the phases. The individual phases (sand and cement) are modeled using the theory of plasticity. Mixtures theory is used to assemble the individual phases to simulate the overall behavior of cemented sands. The gradual damage of the internal structure of cemented sands is also incorporated within the model. The agreement between experimental data and model predictions is very good. In summary, mixtures theory using simple plasticity models for the individual phases is capable of capturing the complex behavior of cemented sands.

This study develops a novel sandwich composite material using plant based materials for potential use in nonstructural building applications. The face sheets comprise woven hemp fabric and a sap based epoxy, while the core comprises castor oil based foam with waste rice hulls as reinforcement. Mechanical properties of the individual materials are tested in uniaxial compression and tension for the foam and hemp, respectively. The sandwich composite is tested in 3 point bending. Flexural results are compared to a finite element model developed in the commercial software Abaqus, and the validated model is then used to investigate alternate sandwich geometries. Sandwich model responses are compared to existing standards for nonstructural building panels, showing that the novel material is roughly half the strength of equally thick drywall. When space limitations are not an issue, a double thickness sandwich biocomposite is found to be a structurally acceptable replacement for standard gypsum drywall.

The objective of this research was to investigate the structural capacity of aggregate base materials stabilized with triaxial geogrid placed in a full-scale pavement involving control, or unstabilized, sections. Field testing was performed on a roadway in northeastern Utah that was 16 km (10 miles) long and included 10 test sections, seven stabilized sections and three control sections, each having five test locations. The pavement structure was comprised of a hot mix asphalt layer overlying an untreated aggregate base layer of varying thickness, depending on the test section. Except for the control sections, one or two layers of geogrid were incorporated into portions of the pavement structure at different locations. Falling-weight deflectometer testing and dynamic cone penetrometer testing were used to evaluate the structural capacity of the aggregate base layer in each pavement section. For data analysis, the Rohde's method was applied in conjunction with the 1993 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials pavement design guide methodology, and the Area under the Pavement Profile (AUPP) method was applied in conjunction with a mechanistic-empirical pavement analysis. Statistical analyses were then performed to enable comparisons of the test sections. Field results indicated that the asphalt layer thickness was consistently 140 mm (5.5 in.) at all 10 test sections, and the base layer thickness varied from 360 mm (14 in.) to 510 mm (20 in.). The results of the statistical analyses indicated that the majority of the 45 possible pairwise comparisons among the test sections were not statistically significant, meaning that variations in the presence and position of triaxial geogrid at those sections did not appear to affect the structural capacity. The remaining comparisons, however, were statistically significant and involved the test sections with the highest structural capacity. While one of these was unexpectedly an unstabilized control section, the others were constructed using one or two layers of geogrid in the base layer. In addition to being statistically significant, the observed differences were also practically important. Increases in the observed base layer coefficient from 0.12 to 0.18 correspond to an increase in the allowable number of equivalent single axle loads (ESALs) from 5.9 million to 19.2 million at the research site, while decreases in the observed AUPP value from 340 mm (13.37 in.) to 213 mm (8.38 in.) correspond to an increase in the allowable number of ESALs from 3.7 million to 17.3 million at the research site. These results indicate that, when geogrid reinforcement is compatible with the given aggregate base material and proper construction practices are followed, statistically significant and practically important increases in pavement design life can be achieved.

Thesis (MEng)-- Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Two common methods of road pavement, granular material stabilisation used in road construction throughout South Africa today include Cold in Place Recycling (CIPR) and stabilisation with cement or bitumen and an active filler to create Bitumen Stabilised Materials (BSM). As part of the updating of the South African Pavement Design Method (SAPDM) an experimental section, investigating the structural capacity of cement and lime stabilised and BSM pavement layers, was constructed and will be monitored over a two year period. As part of this study Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) measurements were taken on the various experimental stabilised pavement layers constructed. The FWD deflection data, measured at various time intervals over a 360 day period, forms the basis of the study presented here. The objective of this thesis was to identify typical back-calculated layer stiffnesses and their variability over time for the various in-situ recycled and stabilised base layers constructed within the experimental section. Stabiliser type, content and layer thicknesses were varied across experimental sub-sections. Trends in back-calculated stiffness of cement stabilised base layers consistently showed significant reductions in layer stiffness subsequent to construction traffic loading. Subsequent to the initial reduction in stiffness little change in stiffness was noted under normal traffic loads. Observations on the trends in back-calculated stabilised layer stiffness per material type over time indicated that seasonal moisture and temperature fluctuations have an effect on the stiffness of the pavement structure as a whole. BSM materials showed significant variability over time in-line with seasonal variability in the supporting subgrade stiffness in the southbound lane. BSM materials with 1% cement added in the northbound lane show initial stiffness reductions due to direct rainfall application however a significant increase in layer stiffness occurs up to 360 days after construction. BSMs with 2% cement in the northbound lane show significant increases in layer stiffness over the 360 day observation period. No significant difference in stiffness trend was observed between BSM emulsion a BSM foam materials. The BSM emulsion with 0.9% residual bitumen and 1% cement was observed to show rapid reduction in stiffness upon opening to traffic and reverting to stiffness values similar to an unbound material of approximately 350 MPa. Cement and lime stabilised materials showed typical post 28 –day average stiffnesses per sub-section ranging between 600 MPa and 1800 MPa. BSM foam with 1% cement added were observed to have average stiffnesses per sub-section in the range of 400MPa to 2200 MPa and BSM emulsion with 1% cement with stiffnesses between 400 MPa to 1700 MPa over the 360 day period. BSMs with 2% cement added showed stiffness ranges between 900 MPa to 4300 MPa for BSM foam and 900 MPa to 3900 MPa for BSM emulsions over the 360 day period. The spatial variability of back-calculated stiffness per sub-section of a particular stabilisation design was significant and was observed, through the Co-efficient of Variation (COV), to increase over time. The effect of the observed variability when incorporated into a pavement design scenario, requiring a design reliability of 90%, showed 50% of the pavement structure would be overdesigned by a factor of 4. With respect to the current philosophies on the development of stiffness over time of cement and lime stabilised and BSM pavement layers some useful observations were made. Cement stabilised materials correlate well with stiffness development theories predicted by previous studies. Theories relating to the stiffness development of BSMs however did not predict the levels of variability in base layer stiffness observed on the experimental section. The continued observation of the experimental section for another year will give greater insight to the stiffness trends of the stabilised materials discussed above.

In order to protect natural resources and ecosystems at Eglin Air Force Base (EAFB), a strategy must be developed for the containment and/or treatment of explosive contaminants on testing and training ranges under continuous use. Phytoremediation is the direct use of living plants for in situ (in place) remediation of contaminated soil, sludges, sediments, and groundwater through contaminant removal, degradation, or containment. Due to its ability to continuously treat large areas at low cost with low impact to the site, phytoremediation was implemented through a field study at EAFB in order to increase range sustainability.

Thesis (MEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The use of polymer modified binders have increased drastically over the past twenty years. It is generally accepted that current empirical specification tests do not adequately characterise the improvement in binder properties when bitumen is modified with polymers. At the University of Stellenbosch, a programme was initiated to relate binder properties to asphalt mix performance. This study forms part of that programme. This study focuses on three binders and is an attempt to characterise binder properties fundamentally. The binders that were tested are: • 60/70 penetration grade bitumen • SBS modified 60/70 bitumen • Bitumen-Rubber Two rheometers were used to characterise the binder properties: • Sliding Plate Rheometer (SPR) • Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) The Sliding Plate Rheometer was modified to allow testing at elevated temperatures. The modification is described in this thesis. Three types of testing were used to test the binders: • Creep tests (SPR and DSR) • Dynamic tests (Strain and Frequency Sweeps - DSR) • Flow tests (high temperature viscosity tests - DSR) The results of the tests were used to characterise differences between the binders. Shear susceptibility lines were plotted and viscosities calculated from the creep test results; Master Curves and Black Diagrams were plotted from frequency sweep results; flow test results were used to characterise high temperature behaviour. A further development in the asphalt industry is the move towards the development of performance based specifications. A programme has been initiated in this regard and this study forms part of the programme. As a step towards the development of performance based specifications filler was included in this study. BinderlFiller systems were subjected to the same test programme the binders were, to characterise the influence on binder properties of filler addition. Some of the conclusions that were drawn at the end of the study are: • Polymer modification improves binder properties related to rutting. • Filler addition does not affect binder properties negatively. • Shear rate is very important during production of asphalt mixes and construction of asphalt layers containing polymer modified binders.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die gebruik van polimeer gemodifiseerde bitumen het drasties toegeneem oor die afgelope twintig jaar. Dit word algemeen aanvaar dat die huidige empiriese spesifikasie toetse nie die verbetering in bindmiddeleienskappe van polimeer modifisering aanvaarbaar karakteriseer nie. 'n Program is geïnisieer by die Universiteit van Stellenbosch om 'n verband te vind tussen bindmiddeleienskappe en asfaltmengseleienskappe. Hierdie studie vorm deel van die program. Hierdie werk fokus op drie bindmiddels en is 'n poging om die bindmiddeleienskappe fundamenteel te karakteriseer. Die bindmiddels wat gebruik is in hierdie werk, is: • 60/70 penetrasiegraad bitumen • SBS gemodifiseerde 60/70 bittimen • Bitumen-Rubber Twee reometers is gebruik om bindmiddeleienskappe te karakteriseer: • Glyplaat Reometer (SPR) • Dinamiese SkuifReometer (DSR) Die glyplaat reometer is aangepas om toetse by hoër temperature te doen en die aanpassing wat gemaak is word in die tesis beskryf. Drie tipes toetse is uitgevoer om die bindmiddels mee te toets: • Kruiptoetse (SPR en DSR) • Dinamiese toetse (DSR) • Vloei toetse (DSR) Die resultate van die toetse is gebruik om die verksille tussen die bindmiddels te kwalifiseer. Verskillende grafieke en figure is getrek van die resultate om die onderskeie bindmiddels te karakteriseer. Die beweging weg van empmese spesifikasies na werkverrigting gebaseerde spesifikasies in die asfalt industrie is 'n verder nuwe ontwikkeling. 'n Program is geïnisïeer ten opsigte hiervan en hierdie werk vorm deel van die program. As 'n stap in die ontwikkeling van die werkverrigting gebaseerde spesifikasies is 'n vuIler ingesluit in die toetsprogram. Bindmiddel/vuIler stelsels is onderwerp aan dieselfde toetse waaraan die bindmiddels onderwerp is om die invloed van die vuIler op die bindmiddels te karakteriseer. Sommige van die gevolgtrekkings waartoe gekom is aan die einde van die tesis, is: • Polimeer modifisering verbeter bindmiddeleienskappe met betrekking tot wielsporing. • Die toevoeging van vuIler affekteer nie die bindmiddeleienskappe negatiefnie. • Die vervormingstempo is van groot belang wanneer asfaltmengsels gemeng en lae gebou word van mengsels wat polimeer gemodifiseerde bitumen bevat.

The objectives of this research were to investigate the sensitivity of two-prong and fourprong resistivity measurements to certain operator-controlled variables and to conduct a direct comparison of the sensitivity of two-prong and four-prong resistivity measurements to certain concrete material variables. Four full-factorial experiments were designed for this research. In the experimentation on operator-controlled variables with two-prong resistivity testing, main effects that are both statistically significant and practically important include hole depth and surface water. In the experimentation on operator-controlled variables with four-prong resistivity testing, probe position, surface water, and prong spacing are all neither statistically significant nor practically important. This high degree of unexplained variation may be of concern to practitioners. In the experimentation on concrete material variables with two-prong and four-prong resistivity testing, main effects that are both statistically significant and practically important include chloride concentration and temperature, both of which exhibit inverse relationships with resistivity. These research findings support several important recommendations for resistivity testing. Operators of the two-prong resistivity device should use an accurately positioned drill stop to ensure that the prepared holes are consistently the correct depth, and they should expect to obtain different values depending on the presence of surface water on the deck surface. Operators considering use of the four-prong resistivity device should not expect the measurements to be sensitive to probe position with respect to rebar, presence of surface water, or prong spacing for conditions similar to those investigated in this research. Operators interested in monitoring resistivity values over time to ascertain material changes in a bridge deck should develop protocols for measuring concrete temperature in the field and subsequently normalizing resistivity measurements to a standard temperature.

Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
The need for a more reliable testing procedure for the characterisation and Quality Assurance/ Control of Bitumen Stabilised Materials (BSMs), besides UCS and ITS testing, has long been recognised by the roads industry. In fact, at CAPSA 2004 and CAPSA 2007, discussions of improved test methods for granular materials, i.e. possible replacement tests for CBR procedures, were conducted in workshops. Triaxial testing for the evaluation of shear parameters is widely recognised as a reliable method of measuring these critical performance properties of granular and Bitumen Stabilised Materials (BSMs). However, the triaxial test in its current state as a research test has little chance of extensive use by practitioners and commercial laboratories, because of complexity, cost and time issues. Major adaptations to the research triaxial test are necessary, before this useful test can have a chance of being accepted by road practitioners. The main aim of this study is to investigate possibilities of developing a simple, affordable, reliable and robust test for characterizing granular and bitumen stabilized materials thus linking test outcome with in-situ performance. This is achieved through the innovative design and manufacture of a prototype triaxial cell capable of accommodating 150 mm diameter by 300 mm deep specimens. The cell is simpler than the research (geotechnical) triaxial cell and the operational protocols have been streamlined, thereby reducing the time and steps required in assembling specimens and testing them. In order to ensure the development of an appropriate triaxial cell for industry, a survey was conducted aimed at investigating currently available facilities, testing capacity and resources within civil engineering laboratories in South Africa. Findings of the survey (Appendix 4) have provided guidance with regard to the nature and sophistication of any new tests to be developed. The survey highlighted some of the limitations and lack of sophistication of the current loading frames used for CBR and UCS testing such as lack of electronic LVDTs, limited overhead space, limited loading capacity and others. Most laboratories would need to invest in new loading facilities to carry out triaxial tests. A review of the test procedure for monotonic triaxial test showed that two main factors contribute to the complexity of the research (geotechnical) triaxial cell namely, time taken to assemble the specimen accurately in the cell and secondly the inherent design of the cell which makes it water and/or air tight at relatively high pressures. The design of the Simple Triaxial Test, therefore, was aimed at overcoming the drawbacks of research triaxial test e.g. fitting a membrane to each specimen to be tested, through considerable simplification by means of a new structure design and procedure of assembly of specimen into the cell. The advantage of addressing these issues would be reduction in the number of steps required in the test procedure and therefore reduction in testing time. The design of the cell particularly was preceded by a conceptualization process that involved investigation of numerous options. Concepts such as the bottle, encapsulated-tube, bottle and sandwich concepts were considered and given reality checks. In addition, available triaxial procedures of a similar nature e.g. Texas Triaxial, were evaluated and analyzed. Ultimately, with some trials and innovation, a design was developed for a simple triaxial cell comprising a steel casing with a latex tube which is then introduced around the specimen sitting on a base plate. It is based on the ‘tube concept’ in which the specimen acts like a ‘rim’ and the cell acts like a ‘tyre’ providing confinement to the triaxial specimens for testing, within the tube. This approach eliminates the use of O-rings and membranes for the specimen and tie-rods for the triaxial cell, thus reducing testing time considerably. The overall dimensions of the cell are 244 mm diameter by 372 mm height (Appendix 5). The cell was manufactured at Stellenbosch University Civil Engineering workshop and preliminary tests were conducted under this study. Parallel tests were also conducted with the Research Triaxial Test setup at Stellenbosch University in order to determine if preliminary results obtained with the Simple Triaxial Test setup were comparable therefore providing a means of validating the data. Results of analysis of variance (ANOVA) show that variability between Simple Triaxial Test (STT) and Research Triaxial Test (RTT) results is less significant whilst that within samples of STT and RTT results is quite significant. Comparisons also show that good correlation were obtained from Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) Hornfels + 3.3 % Emulsion + 0 % Cement mix and mixes with the G2 base course aggregate whilst completely different correlation was obtained from RAP + 3.3 % Emulsion + 1% Cement. It is evident however that the differences observed stem from material variability i.e. random variability to one degree or the other and not to the STT apparatus. It is recommended for future research that more STT versus RTT testing be done especially on a mix with known mechanical properties when compacted to a specified dry density, e.g. graded crushed stone (G1) compacted to 100% mod. AASHTO. In summary, a locally made, low cost, relatively durable triaxial cell with relatively easy and quick specimen assembly procedures has been developed. It is now possible to perform triaxial tests on 150 mm diameter by 300 mm high specimen relatively easily and quickly. However, the challenge of validating results obtained, as well as improving the manufacture process of its main component, the tube, still remains.

Este trabalho apresenta a análise da capacidade de carga dos ensaios de carregamento dinâmico realizados nas estacas utilizadas na construção do Estaleiro Atlântico Sul e Cais Interno IV (Porto de Suape PE). As estacas ensaiadas são do tipo hélice contínua e prémoldadas. Estão também apresentadas as locações das estacas, sondagens, características, processo executivo e instrumentação das estacas estudadas, bem como a compilação dos resultados encontrados através dos registros de monitoração das estacas. Com os resultados de capacidade de carga das estacas obtidos através dos ensaios de carregamento dinâmico e sondagens SPT (Stand Penetration Test), foram realizadas comparações com os métodos: Aoki e Velloso (1975) e Décourt (1996). A partir das curvas carga x recalque das estacas, gerados pelos métodos CAPWAP e DLTWAVE foram realiza das tentativas de verificação de capacidade de carga, através da interseção da curva com a extrapolação da reta proposta pela NBR 6122/2010, método de Davisson (1972), carga de ruptura corresponde ao recalque pelo método de Terzaghi (1942) e método de De Beer (1967). Discutiu-se também neste trabalho a influência do coeficiente de amortecimento (J), a eficiência do sistema de cravação e se propôs uma expressão para o cálculo da tensão na cravação de estacas pré-moldadas, a partir da retro análise da expressão de Broms e análise do atrito lateral mediante a comparação entre métodos semi-empíricos e hipóteses estabelecidas. Conclui-se que os resultados apresentados da capacidade de carga nos métodos Aoki e Velloso (1975) e Décourt (1996) baseados nas sondagens de referência do ensaio não demonstram em geral compatibilidade com a capacidade de carga do ensaio do ECD; com relação às curvas carga x recalque, os métodos e hipóteses adotados indicam que o nível de carregamento máximo atingido no ensaio, não foi suficiente para mobilizar a capacidade de carga total das estacas
This presented work analysis of the load capacity of the dynamic load test carried through in the props used in the construction of the Atlântico Sul Shipyard and Internal Wharf IV (Port of Suape - PE). The assayed piles are of the type continuos fly anger and pre cast concrete. Also the location of the piles and soundings are presented, characteristics, executive proceeding and instrumentation of the studied piles, as well as the compilation of the results found through the registers of monitoring of the piles. With the results of load capacity of cuttings obtained through and dynamic loading test surveys SPT (Stand penetration test), comparisons were made with the methods: Aoki and Velloso (1975) and Décourt (1996). From the curves load x settlement generated for method CAPWAP of the props had been carried through attempts of verification of load capacity, through the intersection of the curve with the extrapolation of the straight line proposal for NBR 6122/1996, Method of Davisson (1972), rupture load corresponds stresses to it for the method of Terzaghi (1942) and Method of De Beer (1967). Discussed in this work the influence of damping coefficient (J), the efficiency of the system of crimping and proposed an expression for the calculation of tension in pile driving pre-shaped, from the back analysis of the expression of Broms and e analysis of the lateral attrition by means of the comparison between methods half-empiricists and established hypotheses. One concludes that the presented results of the load capacity in the methods Aoki and Velloso (1975) and Décourt (1996) based in the soundings of reference of the assay in general does not demonstrate compatibility with the load capacity of the assay of the ECD; with regard to the curves load x it stresses, the methods and adopted hypotheses indicate that the reached maximum shipment level in the assay, was not enough to mobilize the total load capacity of the props

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Factors influencing surface run-off of bitumen emulsions were studied in order to understand binders for use in the construction of surfacing seals. Run-off of the binder from the road surface causes an inconsistent film thickness leading to ravelling (Johannes, Hanz & Bahia n.d.) and bleeding at the upstream and downstream regions, respectively. There is currently no accepted specification for surface run-off viscosity. Practice mainly relies on empirical tests and experience. As the establishment of such a specification encompasses performance of the binder in various environments or field conditions, this study was undertaken to determine performance of the selected binder. Viscosity was kept constant by spraying the emulsion at a constant temperature and also holding the pavement temperature constant. In order to study the run-off behaviour of the binder, run-off tests were conducted at various gradients, texture depths and spray rates. Surfacing seals of various texture depths were constructed in the laboratory. Using a spray bar, the emulsion was sprayed at various spray rates. The sample surfaces were tilted to various gradients. Results portrayed the effects of the three factors (spray rate, gradient and texture depth) on the amount of runoff. An increase in the magnitude of the factors resulted in a variation in the runoff (increase or decrease). One notable finding was that the runoff from the 9.5 mm seal was less than that from the 13.2 mm seal. The other significant finding was that spray rate had the largest effect on runoff, followed by texture depth, and gradient.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sekere eienskappe wat oppervlakdreinering van bitumen emulsies op paaie beinvloed, is bestudeer om sodoende binders wat gebruik word in die konstruksie van die seëls beter te verstaan. Afloop van die binder vanaf die padoppervlak kan lei tot die vorming van ‘n laag met ongelyke dikte wat moontlike rafeling (Johannes, Hanz & Bahia nd) en bloeing vanuit die onderkant van die pad tot gevolg kan hê. Daar is tans geen aanvaarde spesifikasies wat hierdie verskynsels inperk nie. Konstruksie praktyk berus hoofsaaklik op empiriese toetse en ondervinding. Hierdie studie is dus onderneem om prestasie van die geselekteerde binder vas te stel. Viskositeit was konstant gehou deur die aangewende emulsie en padtemperatuur konstant te hou. Ten einde die afloopgedrag van die binder te bestudeer, is toetse uitgevoer op verskeie hellings, tekstuurdieptes en aanwendingskoerse. Seëls van die verskillende tekstuurdieptes is gebou in die laboratorium, en emulsies op hierdie oppervlaktes aangewend. Die toetsoppervlakte is gekantel om die vereiste helling te kry. Resultate vir die drie faktore wys die invloed op afloop. ‘n Toename in die grootte van die faktore het gelei tot 'n variasie in die afloop (toename of afname). Een noemenswaardige bevinding was dat die afloop van die seël van 9,5 mm minder was as dié van die seël van 13,2 mm. Belangrike bevindinge sluit ook in dat die spuitkoers die grootste invloed het op afloop, gevolg deur die tekstuur diepte en die gradiënt.

Low temperature cracking is a major distress in asphalt pavements. Several test configurations have been introduced to characterize the fracture properties of hot mix (HMA); however, most are considered to be research tools due to the complexity of the test methods or equipment. This dissertation describes the development of the indirect ring tension (IRT) fracture test for HMA, which was designed to be an effective and user-friendly test that could be deployed at the Department of Transportation level. The primary advantages of this innovative and yet practical test include: relatively large fracture surface test zone, simplicity of the specimen geometry, widespread availability of the required test equipment, and ability to test laboratory compacted specimens as well as field cores. Numerical modeling was utilized to calibrate the stress intensity factor formula of the IRT fracture test for various specimen dimensions. The results of this extensive analysis were encapsulated in a single equation. To develop the test procedure, a laboratory study was conducted to determine the optimal test parameters for HMA material. An experimental plan was then developed to evaluate the capability of the test in capturing the variations in the mix properties, asphalt pavement density, asphalt material aging, and test temperature. Five plant-produced HMA mixtures were used in this extensive study, and the results revealed that the IRT fracture test is highly repeatable, and capable of capturing the variations in the fracture properties of HMA. Furthermore, an analytical model was developed based on the viscoelastic properties of HMA to estimate the maximum allowable crack size for the pavements in the experimental study. This analysis indicated that the low-temperature cracking potential of the asphalt mixtures is highly sensitive to the fracture toughness and brittleness of the HMA material. Additionally, the IRT fracture test data seemed to correlate well with the data from the distress survey which was conducted on the pavements after five years of service. The maximum allowable crack size analysis revealed that a significant improvement could be realized in terms of the pavements performance if the HMA were to be compacted to a higher density. Finally, the IRT fracture test data were compared to the results of the disk-shaped compact [DC(t)] test. The results of the two tests showed a strong correlation; however, the IRT test seemed to be more repeatable.

The objective of this research was to apply a previously recommended laboratory testing protocol to specific aggregate base materials that are also the subject of ongoing full-scale field testing. The scope of this research involved three aggregate base materials selected from three sites where full-scale field testing programs have been established. The first and second field sites included five different geogrid types, categorized as either biaxial or triaxial, in a singlelayer configuration, while the third site included only the triaxial geogrid type in either a singleor double-layer configuration. Geogrid-stabilized and unstabilized control specimens were evaluated using the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials T 307 quick shear testing protocol. Measurements of load and axial displacement were recorded and used to develop a stress-strain plot for each specimen tested. The peak axial stress, the modulus to the peak axial stress, the modulus of the elastic portion of the curve, and the modulus at 2 percent strain were then calculated. Statistical analyses were performed to investigate differences between geogridstabilized specimens and unstabilized control specimens and to investigate differences between individual geogrid products or geogrid configurations. Depending on the method of data analysis, the quick shear test results indicate that geogrid stabilization, with the effect of geogrid stabilization averaged across all of the geogrid products evaluated in this study, may or may not improve the structural quality of the aggregate base materials evaluated in this study. The results also indicate that, regardless of the method of analysis, one geogrid product or configuration may be more effective than another at improving the structural quality of a given aggregate base material as measured using the quick shear test. All results from this research are limited in their application to the aggregate base material types, geogrid products, and geogrid configurations associated with this study. Additional research is needed to compare the results of the laboratory quick shear testing obtained for this study with the structural capacity of the geogrid-stabilized and unstabilized control sections that have been constructed at corresponding full-scale field testing sites. Specifically, further research is needed to determine which method of laboratory data analysis yields the best comparisons with field test results. Finally, correlations between the results of quick shear testing and resilient modulus need to be investigated in order to incorporate the findings of the quick shear test on geogrid-stabilized base materials into mechanistic-empirical pavement design.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.
Some digitised pages may appear illegible due to the condition of the original hard copy.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A critical evaluation of provisions for imposed loads in the South African Loading Code for design of structures, SABS 0160-1989 (SABS), by comparison with other codes was performed earlier. The evaluation revealed the SABS loading code to be generally non-conservative in its provisions for imposed loads for a range of general and specialist occupancy classes. The SABS provision for imposed loads for inaccessible roofs was found to be substantially non-conservative in comparison with the other codes. An investigation into the imposed load for inaccessible roofs is subsequently performed in order to establish a scientific rationale through which the codified design values may be measured effectively. Due to the lack of information and the large uncertainties involved in the imposed roof load, stochastic treatment of the loads is implemented. This is in line with the stochastic modelling of loads as implemented in general. The approach applied is to select a type of building that can be regarded as a generic example of buildings to which these loads apply, and to discretisize the load into the various sub-mechanisms that translate into the imposed roof load. The probabilistic models for the load mechanisms are then quantified, either through physical load surveys, or through conducting an expert survey for those variables which are not observable. The use of expert opinion as a resource for information is not readily accessible in terms of yielding scientifically defendable results. Therefore, the expert survey is performed as a calibrated experiment whereby weights were calculated for the individual experts' opinions and their opinions combined accordingly. The probabilistic models for the load mechanisms are then translated into load effects by taking into account the physical process resulting in the load effects. By applying these mechanisms in such a way as to maximise the said load effects, equivalent uniformly distributed loads (EUDL's) were calculated for each mechanism. The probabilistic models obtained in terms of the EUDL's pose an easily accessible format through which existing load models and codified provisions can be evaluated. These load models are then utilised to evaluate the SABS provisions in terms of the level of reliability catered for by SABS ultimate limit-state design criteria. It is concluded that the SABS conservatively provides for maintenance loads on the roof, while the reliability for construction loads is non-conservative for large tributary areas and highly non-conservative for small areas. The load models so obtained can further be applied for structural reliability assessment.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: "n Kritiese evaluasie van die voorskrifte vir opgelegde belastings in die Suid- Afrikaanse Selastingskode vir die ontwerp van strukture, SASS 0160-1989 (SASS) deur 'n vergelyking met ander kodes is vroeër uitgevoer. Die evaluasie het getoon dat die SASS in die algemeen onkonserwatief is in sy voorsiening vir opgelegde belastings oor 'n bereik van algemene en spesialis okkupasie tipes. Die SASS voorskrif vir opgelegde belastings vir ontoeganklike dakke is hoogs onkonserwatief in vergelyking met die ander kodes. 'n Ondersoek na die opgelegde belasting vir ontoeganklike dakke word gevolglik uitgevoer met die doelom 'n wetenskaplike rasionaal daar te stel waardeur die gekodifiseerde voorskrifte effektief gemeet kan word. As gevolg van die gebrek aan inligting en groot onsekerhede betrokke by die opgelegde dakbelasting word stogastiese modellering geimplimenteer. Die aanslag wat gevolg is, is om 'n tipe gebou te selekteer wat beskou kan word as verteenwoordigend van die geboue waarvoor hierdie belastings van toepassing is, en om die belasting te diskretiseer in die verskeie lasmeganismes wat die opgelegde dakbelasting voortbring. Die waarskynlikheidsmodelle vir die lasmeganismes word dan gekwantifiseer, óf deur fisiese opnames, óf deur die uitvoering van 'n ekspertopname vir daardie veranderlikes wat nie waarneembaar is nie. Die gebruik van ekspert opinie as "n bron van inligting is nie maklik toeganklik in terme daarvan om wetenskaplik verdedigbare resultate te lewer nie. Daarom is die ekspert-opname uitgevoer soos 'n gekalibreerde eksperiment waardeur relatiewe gewigte bereken word vir die individuele eksperts en hulopinies daarvolgens gekombineer word. Die waarskynlikheidsmodelle vir die lasmeganismes word dan omgeskakel in laseffekte deur in agneming van die fisiese proses wat die las-effek voortbring. Deur die lasmeganismes op só 'n manier toe te pas dat die betrokke las-effekte gemaksimeer word, word ekwivalent uniforme belastings (EUS's) bepaal. Die waarskynlikheidsmodelle in terme van EUS's bied "n maklik toeganklike formaat waardeur bestaande lasmodelle en gekodifiseerde voorskrifte evalueer kan word. Die lasmodelle word gevolglik gebruik om die SASS voorskrifte te evalueer in terme van die vlak van betroubaarheid wat gehandhaaf word deur SASS limiet-staat ontwerp kriteria. Dit is bepaal dat die SASS konserwatief voorsiening maak vir onderhoudslaste op die dak, maar onkonserwatief tot hoogs-onkonserwatief is vir konstruksie laste. Die bepaalde lasmodelle kan verder toegepas word in strukturele betroubaarheids analise.

Shotcrete or sprayed concrete has become an inevitable material for stabilising and supporting hard rock tunnels. To prevent rock block fallouts in the excavated tunnel, shotcrete is pneumatically projected under high pressure on the rock surface. This method has proven to reduce the construction time drastically, and the addition of fibres in the shotcrete material results in Fibre Reinforced Shotcrete (FRS). The fibres increased the strength of the parent matrix and made the reinforcement bar (mesh) placing procedure with its heavy labour work unnecessary. Even though FRS have been in use for many years, to design FRS lining there are currently no complete, widely used guidelines. Traditionally, the most frequently used testing was a traditional beam testing method which helps to determine the FRS mechanical properties. Previous studies prove that the result from beams often show a high scatter in the results. Another proposed standard testing method is the Round Determinate Panel method to determine the energy absorption capacity. This method has the potential to be a reliable test procedure with a repeatable and predictable crack pattern.In this project, an experimental investigation was carried out to understand the behaviour of macro fibres of steel, basalt and synthetic materials in FRS. The specimens were sprayed in situ and cast in laboratory, of which the in situ samples were assigned to different curing conditions. The test standard ASTM C-1550 was used to design the round panels and SS-EN 14488-3 for the beams. Each type of FRS specimen’s compressive strength was tested, evaluated and compared. The single fibre pullout strength was tested to determine the bond strength between shotcrete and fibres.The calculated results showed the coefficient of variation (COV) of energy absorption capacity from panels varied within 3 % – 13 % and the residual strength of beams within 12 % – 35 %. Irrespective of testing method, the Dramix 3D steel fibre and Minibars basalt fibre for the tested cases showed the lowest dispersion of result. Minibars showed a significant increase in compressive strength compared to the other fibres. Single fibre pullout testing concluded that the steel fibre had superior load capacity at the first crack. Minibars showed a strength close to that of steel fibres and a failure mode similar to that with synthetic fibres.

Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research conducted in this study forms part of the Phase II process of the Bitumen Stabilized Materials (BSMs) Guideline improvement initiative. The initiative aims to address areas of concern in the cold mix design procedures for BSMs. Current road rehabilitation using the bitumen stabilization process requires testing of representative specimens as means to evaluate pavement performance over time. In order to adequately acquire specimens representative of field conditions, it is necessary to condition the materials in a process called curing. Although curing procedures have been standard in many countries on different continents, the protocols are varied and an acceptable procedure is currently not available. In order to develop an acceptable curing protocol for BSMs, both field and laboratory environments were investigated. Considering that curing takes time in the field, production of representative samples intended for laboratory testing must undergo accelerated curing in the laboratory. Given the complexities involved in achieving close correlations between field and laboratory environments, the research strived to reconcile field and laboratory material behaviour. In particular, the main objective of the research was to unify the curing protocol for BSMs, with the standardization of the curing protocol being top priority. In this study, laboratory results have confirmed that the different natures of curing mechanisms inherent in a BSM-foam and BSM-emulsion contribute to irreconcilable material behaviour(s). Results have confirmed that curing of BSM-foam is largely a function of water repulsion, with the addition of active filler dominating material performance almost immediately. Unlike BSM-foam, curing of BSM-emulsion is both a function of the breaking of emulsion during the initial phase and the gradual release of moisture with time. In this instance, BSM-emulsion material performance resembled active filler influences past the breaking of the emulsion cycle. Consequently, given the observed differences regarding material behaviour(s), the unification of the curing protocol for BSMs has not been successful. In terms of accommodation of active filler in the final curing protocol for BSMs, findings in this research have revealed that active filler’s tendency to absorb moisture in the initial stages requires longer curing time to help extract the absorbed moisture during the curing process. Although the use of active filler has an impact on curing, its inclusion in a BSM does not justify its extension in the curing time as cementation is not one of the desired properties of these materials. BSMs are primarily desirable for their flexibility in pavement structures. For this reason, active filler was omitted in the final curing protocol due to reasons of simplifying the mix design process. In conclusion, different curing protocols were tested and developed to help produce reconcilable material behaviour in both the field and laboratory environments. Through the reconciliation of key material properties such as the resilient modulus, long term equilibrium moisture conditions and shear parameters, an acceptable standardized curing protocol for BSM-foam and BSMemulsion intended for application in industrial laboratories across South Africa was successfully developed.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing tydens hierdie studie gedoen, vorm deel van die Tweede fase van die Bitumen Gestabiliseerde Materiale Riglyne verbeteringsinisiatief. Die inisiatief het ten doel om areas van bekommernis in die kouemengsel-ontwerp-prosedures vir Bitumen Gestabiliseerde Materiale aan te spreek. Huidige padrehabilitasie wat gebruik maak van die Bitumen Gestabiliseerde Materiale proses, vereis toetsing van verteenwoordigende monsters om sodoende plaveiselgedrag oor ‘n tydperk te evalueer. Materiale moet deur die verouderingsproses gekondisioneer word, om sodoende monsters te verkry wat akkuraat verteenwoordigend van veldtoestande is. Alhoewel verouderingsprosesse in meeste lande - op verskillende kontinente - gestandariseerd is, is die protokol verskillend en ‘n aanvaarbare prosedure is nie tans beskikbaar nie. Beide veld- en laboratoriumomgewings is ondersoek, om sodoende ‘n aanvaarbare verouderings-protokol vir Bitumen Gestabiliseerde Materiale te ontwikkel. Wanneer in ag geneem word dat veroudering in die veld tydrowend is, moet vervaardiging van verteenwoordigende monsters vir laboratoriumgebruik versnelde veroudering in die laboratoruim ondergaan. Gegee die kompleksiteite betrokke om goeie korrelasie tussen velden laboratoriumomgewings te verkry, het die navorsing daarna gestreef om die veld- en laboratoriummateriaalgedrag te verenig. Die hoofdoel van die navorsing was om die verouderingsprotokol vir Bitumen Gestabiliseerde Materiale te verenig met die stardaardisering van die verouderingsprotokol as top prioriteit. In hierdie studie het laboratorium resultate bevestig dat die verskillende aard van voorbereidings- meganismes inherent in BSM-skuim en BSM-emulsie bydra tot onversoenbare materiaalgedrag. Resultate het bevestig dat voorbereiding van BSM-skuim ’n funksie van waterrepulsie het en met die byvoeging van aktiewe vullers dominieer dit die materiaalgedrag byna onmiddelik. Anders as BSM-skuim is die voorbereiding van BSM-emulsie beide ’n funksie vir die breek van emulsie tydens die begin fase en die geleidelike vrystelling van vog oor tyd. In hierdie geval het BSM-emulsie se materiaalgedrag die invloed van aktiewe vuller getoon nadat die emulsie gebreek het. Gevolglik, weens die waargenome verskille rakende materiaalgedrag is die vereniging van die voorbereidings- protokols vir BSMs nie suksesvol nie. In terme van inagneming van aktiewe vullers in die finale voorbereidingsprotokol vir BSM’s, is deur navorsing bevind dat aktiewe vullers neig se neiging om vog te absorbeer in die beginstadia dit benodig dus ‘n langer verouderingstyd vir die ontrekking van die geabsorbeerde vog. Hoewel die gebruik van aktiewe vullers ’n impak het op die voorbereiding, reverdig dit nie die verlenging van die verouderingstyd vir die insluiting daarvan in BSM nie, siende dat sementering nie een van die gewenste eienskappe van hierdie materiaal is nie. BSMs word hoofsaaklik verkies vir sy buigsaamheid in paveiselsturkture. Om die mengselontwerp prosesse te vereenvoudig, was aktiewe vullers dus weggelaat in die finale voorbereidingsprotokol. Ter afsluiting was verskeie voorbereidings protokolle getoets en ontwikkel om te help met die vervaardiging van versoenbare materaalgedrag in beide veld-en-laboratoriumomgewings. Deur die versoening van kern materiaal eienskappe soos die elastisiteitsmodulus, lang termynewewigvog kondisies en skuifparameters, is ’n aanvaarbare gestandariseerde voorbereidingsprotokol vir BSM-skuim en BSM-emulsie bedoel vir aanwending in industriele laboratoriums regoor Suid Afrika suksesvol ontwikkel.

The use of plastic concrete for cutoff walls in dams for remediation of seepage issues has become more widely used in the past 25 years, however, the in-situ material properties are still not well understood. The research presents a new testing procedure that combines two existing testing methods, triaxial shear and permeability testing. By developing this laboratory testing method, material properties of the cutoff wall backfill material can be more accurately examined and explained using changes in the permeability of the material to discern the ductility and stiffness.

A variety of studies were performed using existing and newly proposed techniques and instrumentation to further the understanding of nondestructive testing of concrete. A new combined stress wave propagation method was developed that combined the existing methods of the spectral analysis of surface waves, impact echo, and free-free resonant column experimental and analysis techniques. The method was used to determine the stiffness profile and location of embedded voids in a concrete tunnel lining modeled as a three layer concrete slab. A new equation was proposed that predicted the level of damage of concrete samples based on the functions of the change in first mode longitudinal frequency and the absorption of energy during cyclic loading to failure. During this study, new instrumentation was developed that aided in the dynamic stiffness measurements during the cyclic loading. A comparison of the static and dynamic Young’s modulus was performed. It was found that the ratio of these two moduli depend on a concrete’s strength and damping properties as well as the age of the specimen. A new equation was proposed using these three properties to determine the ratio of static to dynamic Young’s modulus. An experimental program was performed on samples of high performance self-consolidating concrete (HPSCC). The HPSCC exceeded expected values of strength and stiffness over that of regular high performance concrete. Finally, a comparison of prestress losses in prestressed bridge girders fabricated using the HPSCC was conducted. Prestress losses were measured and calculated using the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) LRFD 2004 and 2007 Specifications. It was determined that the AASHTO LRFD 2007 Specifications most accurately predict the measured prestress losses.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Surface seals are widely used in South Africa. There are a number of reasons which include affordability, versatility and durability. There are, however, in some cases problems with stone loss that can lead to a shortened lifespan of the pavement. The loss of aggregate chippings in surface seals poses a major problem in the seal pavement industry. This study aims to identify the influencing factors that lead to these adhesive failures as well as to find optimum combinations of binders and aggregates at various conditions. Various binders commonly used in South African surface seal construction will be tested using the Bitumen Bond Strength (BBS) test method. The binders used in the study include 80/100 penetration grade bitumen, elastomer modified bitumen, bitumen rubber, elastomer modified emulsion and cationic rapid setting emulsion. Aggregates used in the study include dolerite, granite and quartzite. The test samples were cured and tested at two temperatures, 15 °C and 35 °C. The samples were also cured for 2, 6 and 24 hours respectively. The study tackles a wide range of variables in order to obtain a good understanding of adhesion properties of surface seals used in South Africa. Tests were repeated at least once to ensure repeatability and in some cases up to four repeats were performed. The loading rate at which the tests were performed had a significant influence on the BBS results. This rate varied which complicated the process of comparing the results. It was therefore decided to unify the loading rates. The BBS results exposed the difference between hot applied binders and emulsions. The former having significant stronger adhesion properties. It was also confirmed by the results that temperature plays a key role in the BBS results due to the visco-elastic properties of bitumen. These influences will be discussed along with others such as aggregate types and curing times. The type of failure is also discussed. Failure can either be adhesive or cohesive, the former being a failure between the aggregate and the binder while the later refers to a failure in the binder itself. The results of other students will also be discussed and compared to the results of this study. These include results of predecessors that tested emulsions as well as results from tests done on fractured aggregate surfaces and precoated aggregates. This study showed very similar results as these from other students, except for tests done with emulsions. It was discovered that the method of curing of the emulsions must be adapted to ensure proper curing of the emulsions. It was found that aggregates did not influence the BBS properties to the same extent as temperature and binder application type. The BBS results of hot applied binders also did not significantly increase as the curing time increased, but the results of emulsions showed some increase. However, the emulsions needed more time to cure properly.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Oppervlak seëls word algemeen gebruik in Suid-Afrika. Daar is verskeie redes hiervoor waaronder bekostigbaarheid,veelsydigheid en duursaamheid. Daar is egter in sommige gevalle probleme met klipverlies wat kan lei tot n verkorte leeftyd. Hierdie klipverlies ontstaan as gevolg van verskeie redes of kombinasies daarvan. Die studie beoog om hierdie faktore wat die adhesie eienskappe beïnvloed te identifiseer sowel as om optimum kobinasies van bindmiddels en klipsoorte te bewerkstellig by verkeie kondisies. ‘n Verskeidenheid van bindmiddels wat algemeen in Suid-Afrika gebruik word, word in die studie getoets met die Bitumen Bond Sterkte (BBS) toets metode. Die bindmiddels wat in die studie gebruik word sluit 80/100 penetrasie graad bitumen, elastomeer gemodifiseerde bitumen, bitumen rubber, elastomeer gemodifiseerde emulsie en kationiese snel settende emulsie. Die klipsoorte wat vir die studie gebruikword is doleriet, graniet en kwartsiet. Hierdie gesteentes word algemeen in die praktyk gebruik. Die toets monsters word ook by twee temperature gekuur en getoets. Hierdie temperature is 15 °C en 35 °C. Die toets monsters word ook onderskeidelik vir 2, 6 en 24 uur gekuur. Die studie ondersoek 'n wye verskeidenheid van veranderlikes om sodoende 'n goeie begrip van adhesie eienskappe van die oppervlak seëls wat in Suid-Afrika gebruik word te verkry. Elke toets was ten minste een maal herhaal om herhaalbaarheid te verseker. Sommige toetse was tot 4 keer herhaal. Die belasting tempo van die toetse het ‘n beduidende uitwerking op die BBS resultate as gevolg van die visko-elastiese eienskappe van bitumen. Hierdie tempo het gewissel en dit moeilik gemaak om die resultate te vergelyk. Daarom was daar besluit om die tempo van die toetse te verander na ‘n gelykvormige tempo. Daar was ‘n duidelike verskil in BBS resultate van die warm toegepaste bindmiddels en die emulsies. Die warm bindmiddels het baie hoër BBS resultate gelwer. Dit was ook bevestig in die resultate dat temperatuur ‘n beduidende rol speel in die BBS. Hierdie invloede sal bespreek word tesame met ander, soos klipsoorte en kuring tye. Die tipe versaking word ook bespreek. Versaking kan plaasvind as gevolg van adhesie of cohesie, waar adhesie versaking 'n versaking is tussen die klip en die bindmiddel terwyl cohesie versaking verwys na 'n versaking in die bindmiddel self. Die uitslae van die ander studente sal ook bespreek word en vergelyking word met die resultate van hierdie studie. Dit sluit die resultate van voorgangers in wat emulsies getoets het sowel as die resultate van toetse wat gedoen is op gebreekte klipoppervlaktes en bitumen behandelde klippe. Hierdie studie het baie soortgelyke resultate getoon as dié van ander studente, behalwe vir die toetse wat gedoen was met emulsies. Daar is vasgestel dat die metode van kuring van die emulsies moet aangepas word om behoorlike kuring van die emulsies te verseker. Daar is ook gevind dat klipsoorte nie die BBS eienskappe in dieselfde mate as temperatuur en bindmiddel toepassingstipe beïnvloed het nie. Die BBS resultate van warm aangewende bindmiddels het ook nie aansienlik verhoog soos die kuringstyd toegeneem het nie, maar die resultate van emulsies het wel 'n toename getoon. Die emulsies het wel meer tyd nodig gehad om behoorlik te kuur.

The objective of this research was to investigate emulsion-treated base (ETB) frost susceptibility in terms of both freeze-thaw cycling and frost heave. The research performed in this study involved laboratory testing of ETB materials sampled from both the Redwood Road and 7800 South reconstruction projects in northern Utah. The effects of freeze-thaw cycling were evaluated by comparing the stiffness and strength of tested specimens to the same properties of control specimens not subjected to freeze-thaw cycling. Frost heave testing enabled evaluation of the effects of emulsion content and degree of curing on the volumetric stability of ETB materials during sustained freezing. Since permeability affects the frost susceptibility of a material, samples were also prepared to specifically evaluate the effect of curing condition on the permeability of the two base materials when treated with emulsion. The results of freeze-thaw testing showed that both the Redwood Road and 7800 South specimens experienced decreases in modulus as a result of freeze-thaw damage. The results also showed that the Redwood Road specimens experienced substantial decreases in strength as a result of freeze-thaw damage. The specimens from 7800 South did not exhibit such strength loss; since those specimens initially had much lower modulus and unconfined compressive strength values than the Redwood Road specimens, they were less susceptible to stiffness and strength loss during the freeze-thaw test. Results for the frost heave tests showed that the untreated base materials were not susceptible to frost heave and that the addition of emulsion, with or without curing, did not change the frost heave behavior in a practically important way. While susceptibility to frost heave is not expected to be a problem with these base materials, the laboratory results revealed a significant increase in the permeability of the ETB specimens after curing, which could facilitate greater freeze-thaw damage. In consideration of these research results, engineers should ensure proper material sampling and laboratory testing to assess the efficacy of emulsion treatment for a given project. ETB to be constructed in cold regions should be subjected to freeze-thaw testing during the design phase, and designers should be aware that curing of the ETB may dramatically increase permeability and therefore increase frost susceptibility.

This research consists of experimental load tests and numerical simulations of structural steel connections with various filler materials to study the effect of non-steel fillers on the connection strength. Non-steel fillers are used in the steel connections to provide thermal insulation by reducing thermal bridging. Eight specimens having steel and polypropylene filler plates of various thicknesses were tested in the laboratory. The collected data were compared to a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using ABAQUS to validate the numerical results. After validation, three parametric studies were conducted using ABAQUS to provide insight into general behavior of connections with a variety of fillers that could be used as thermal breaks. In addition, an extreme case of having air gaps instead of alternative fillers was also considered. The Research Council on Structural Connections (RCSC 2014) suggests a reduction in the bolt shear strength when undeveloped fillers with a thickness of more than 0.25 inch are used while using any non-steel material is prohibited due the limited research available. Most research studies have investigated the mechanical behavior of thermal breaks in either end-plate moment connections or slip-critical connections. No data is available for thermal breaks in bearing-type connections up to failure. This research aims to study the effects of filler material properties such as modulus of elasticity and strength on bolt strength, as well as investigate whether the current equation in RCSC 2014 is applicable for alternative filler materials like polypropylene that has less than 0.5% of the steel modulus of elasticity and less than 10% of steel strength.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research investigates the flexibility and the performance properties of bitumen stabilised materials under the influence of mix variables. The laboratory testing consisted of two main phases. During the first phase (mix design), the strength and the flexibility of the mixes were assessed through ITS (Indirect Tensile Strength), UCS (Unconfined Compressive Strength), displacement at break, strain at break and fracture energy. The second phase consisted of a series of triaxial tests done to assess the performance properties (shear strength: cohesion and angle of internal friction; and stiffness: resilient modulus) of the mixes. The mineral aggregates used in this study were milled from different locations of the R35, near Bethal. This was a blend of granular material (dolerite, from various locations of the existing base and subbase layer of the R35) and Reclaimed Asphalt (RA) milled from the existing surfacing. During the mix design phase, two types of bituminous binders were used (bitumen emulsion and foamed bitumen) at bitumen content ranges of 2%, 2.4% and 2.8% each. Two types of active filler were used separately and in combination at a proportion of 1% and 2%. Finally, specimens were tested in wet and dry conditions for each mix combination. During the triaxial testing phase, only the optimum bitumen content of 2.4% was used, both for bitumen emulsion and foamed bitumen, with only cement as active filler in a proportion 1% and 2%. The specimens were tested at different ranges of densities and saturation levels. The flexibility of the mix was assessed through the fracture energy, the strain and the displacement at break parameters. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted on the data to assess the significance of experimental variables on this property. This property was found to be very sensitive to bitumen and cement content added to the mix. When assessing the combined effect and the significance of the variables on the flexibility of the mixes, it was found that fracture energy is mostly influenced by the cement content, followed by the bitumen content, then the type of treatment and finally the testing condition. However, the level of significance was not in the same order for the other two parameters (displacement and strain at break). It was also found that the combined effect of some independent variables (cement content + testing condition, type of treatment + cement content + bitumen content) had a significant effect on the fracture energy and the strain at break respectively. From the ITS and UCS tests, an increase in strength was noticed with the increase of cement content. On the other hand, the increase in bitumen content led to a decrease in strength of the material. The statistical analysis on the ITS and UCS values show that the independent variable with the most significant effect on the ITS is the cement content, followed by the testing conditions, then the bitumen content and finally the type of treatment. The combined effect of cement content + bitumen content was found to be significant both for ITS and UCS. In the second phase triaxial tests were performed in order to evaluate the performance properties of the mixes. It was found that the increase of the active filler content significantly improves the shear strength of the material. It was also found that at a fixed cement content, specimens tested at low density and/or high level of saturation show low shear strength. The Mr-θ model was used to model the resilient modulus of the mixes and the model coefficients used to evaluate the effect of experimental variables on the resilient modulus. It was found that the resilient modulus of the mixes increases as the bulk stress increases. This confirms the stress dependent behaviour of bitumen stabilised materials. The analysis show that increasing the percentage of active fillers content results in a significant increase in the resilient modulus values. An increase in relative density also resulted in an increase in the resilient modulus of the mixes, while the opposite effect was observed with the increased of the saturation level. Besides the engineering properties and the mechanical test parameters, other parameters such as the Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) was calculated in order to evaluate the moisture sensitivity of the mixes. Weakening due to moisture was found to be more predominant in the mixes with less active filler. In addition, bitumen emulsion mixes were found to have a better resistance to moisture weakening effects compared to foamed bitumen. In addition, a comparison between the rapid curing and the accelerated curing was done. Higher ITS and UCS results were obtained for specimens cured using long term curing compared to specimens cured using the accelerated curing method. In conclusion, flexibility is an important property of bitumen road construction material (bitumen stabilised material include) however, it is not an easy property to measure. Although, displacement/strain at break and fracture energy from ITS and UCS were able to give us some indications on the main factors governing the flexibility of bitumen stabilised materials (the bitumen and active filler content), more accurate and adequate tests are required to evaluate the parameter.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die buigsaamheid en gedragseienskappe van bitumen gestabiliseerde materiale was getoets om sodoende die invloed van verskeie mengselveranderlikes te evalueer. Die ondersoek het uit twee fases bestaan. Tydens die eerste fase (mengfase) is die sterkte en buigsaamheid deur middel van indirekte treksterkte toetse (ITS), onbegrensde druksterkte toetse (UCS), verplasing – en vervorming by breekpunt sowel as breek-energie toetse gedoen en ondersoek. Die tweede fase het bestaan uit ʼn reeks drie-assige triaksiaal toetse. Triaksiaaltoetse is uitgevoer om die gedragseienskappe soos die skuifsterkte, kohesie, hoek van interne wrywing, styfheid en weerstand modulus te ondersoek. Die gemaalde mineraal-aggregaat wat in hierdie ondersoek gebruik is, was verkry op verskeie areas van die R35, geleë naby Bethal. Die materiaal is ʼn mengsel van granulêre materiaal (van die bestaande kroonlaag en stutlaag van die pad) en herwonne asfalt (RA). Tydens die mengontwerp fase is twee tipes bitumen gebruik naamlik bitumenemulsie en skuimbitumen in hoeveelhede van 2%, 2.4% en 2.8%. Twee tipes aktiewe vulstof (hoeveelhede van onderskeidelik 1% en 2%) was saam met elk van die verskeie bitumen-hoeveelhede gebruik. Proefstukke van elk van hierdie mengsel kombinasies is onder beide nat en droë kondisies getoets. Tydens die tweede fase, is slegs die optimum binder inhoud (2.4%) gebruik vir beide emulsie- en skuimbitumen, gekombineer met 1% en 2% aktiewe vulstof. Proefstukke was getoets by ʼn reeks van verskillende digthede en versadigingvlakke. Die buigsaamheid was ondersoek deur middel van breek-energie, vervorming en die verplasing by breekpunt. ʼn Analise van variasie (ANOVA) is uitgevoer op die toetsdata om sodoende die te evalueer of die veranderlikes beduidend is ten opsigte van buigsaamheid. Daar is gevind dat die buigsaamheideienskap sensitief is vir beide bitumen en sement inhoud. Met assessering van die gekombineerde effek en betekenis van die veranderlikes op die buigsaamheid van die mengsels, is daar gevind dat die hoogste beduidende veranderlike t.o.v breek-energie die sement inhoud is, gevolg deur die bitumeninhoud, tipe behandeling en laastens die toetskondisie. Die orde van belangrikheid verskil vir die ander twee parameters (verplasing en vervorming by breekpunt). Daar is ook gevind dat die gekombineerde effek van sommige veranderlikes (sement inhoud en toets kondisie, tipe behandeling en sement inhoud tesame met bitumen inhoud) ook beduidend was t.o.v breek-energie en vervorming by breekpunt. Vanuit die ITS en UCS toetse was daar ʼn toename in sterkte waargeneem soos die sementinhoud toeneem. Aan die anderkant, het ʼn toename in bitumeninhoud ‘n afname in sterkte veroorsaak. Die statistiese analise van ITS en UCS resultate, toon dat die grootste beduidende onafhanklike t.o.v ITS waardes ook die sement inhoud was, gevolg deur toets kondisies die grootste effek, bitumen inhoud en die tipe behandeling. Die gekombineerde effek van sementinhoud en bitumeninhoud, was betekenisvol vir beide ITS en UCS. Drie-assige triaksiaaltoetse was uitgevoer om die gedragseienskappe van die mengsels te evalueer. Daar is gevind dat die toename in sement inhoud, die skuif sterkte van die materiaal grootliks verbeter. By ʼn konstante sementinhoud, wys toetsresultate van proefstukke wat getoets is by lae digthede en hoë vlakke van versadiging, lae skuif sterkte. Die Mr – θ model was gebruik om die veerkragsmodulus van die mengsels te moduleer en die modelkoëffisiënte is gebruik om die effek van eksperimentele veranderlikes op die weerstand modulus te evalueer. Met toename in die omhullende spanning is ‘n toename in die veerkragsmodulus waargeneem, wat bevestig dat die gedrag van bitumen gestabiliseerde materiale spannings afhanklik is. ʼn Toename in die sement en relatiewe digtheid het ʼn merkwaardige toename in die veerkragsmodulus tot gevolg gehad, terwyl die teenoorgestelde waargeneem is met toename in versadigingsvlakke. Buiten die ingenieurseienskap en meganiese toetsfaktore, is ander faktore (soos die trekspanning verhouding) bereken om die vogsensitiwiteit van die mengsels te evalueer. Mengsels met laer sement inhoud het groter verswakking ervaar met blootstelling aan water. Bitumenemulsie proefstukke toon beter weerstand teen water as skuimbitumen. Vergelyking tussen versnelde en korttermyn nabehandelingsprosedure van proefstukke, toon hoër ITS en UCS waardes vir die versnelde nabehandelingsprosedure prosedure. Buigsaamheid is ‘n belangrike eienskap van bitumen in padkonstruksie materiale (insluitend bitumen gestabiliseerde materiale), maar word moeilik gemeet. Alhoewel verplasing/vervorming by breekpunt en breek energie, bepaal vanaf ITS en UCS, ‘n indikasie toon van die hooffaktore (binder en sement) wat buigsaamheid van bitumen gestabiliseerde materiaal beïnvloed, word meer akkurate toetse benodig om die eienskap te ondersoek.

Pavement foundations for major roads in the UK were historically designed on an empirical basis, related to a single design chart, restricting the incorporation of superior performing materials or materials for which the empirical data sets were not available. The adoption of performance based specifications was promoted as they are perceived to 'open up' the use of alternative materials (including 'local' sources of primary materials) or techniques, and allow for the incorporation of superior performance into the overall pavement design. Parallel developments to the performance based design of pavement foundations (allowing for superior performance) and in situ testing required the support of laboratory based performance tests. These laboratory based tests were required to determine material performance parameters (elastic modulus and resistance to permanent deformation) for both unbound and hydraulically bound pavement foundation materials. A review of the available laboratory apparatus indicated that they were either; unrealistic (and hence unable to provide the required material performance parameters), or overly complex and more suited to fundamental research. Therefore, the requirement for developmental research work was identified. The research reported herein details the development, manufacture and initial evaluation of simplified laboratory apparatus (the Springbox for unbound materials and static stiffness test for hydraulically bound mixtures) designed to produce the performance parameters of elastic modulus and relative resistance to permanent deformation for pavement foundation materials. The equipment and test procedure evaluation was undertaken across a range of materials, giving initial guidance on likely in situ performance. The innovative laboratory apparatus and materials guidance (including the potential to use recycled and secondary aggregates) was incorporated into key Highways Agency specification and guidance documents, which in turn influence construction practice outside of motorways and major trunk roads. This research concludes by outlining a number of recommendations for continued development and evaluation, including feeding back data sets from long term in situ performance testing for subsequent refinement of assumptions.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The increased use of reclaimed asphalt (RA) in Bitumen Stabilised Materials (BSMs), shortcomings in the existing design guidelines and manuals and ongoing developments in the concepts and understanding of these materials require further research into the fundamental properties and behaviour of BSMs. The state-of-the-art of foamed bitumen techniques is reviewed in the literature study. Current best practices in the design of BSMs and pavements incorporating such materials are also included in this literature study. Shortcomings and areas for further improvement of the design practice have been identified. With new environmental legislation, the importance of BSM technology including RA as an environmentally-friendlier and more sustainable construction technique is set to increase in the coming years. Changes in the behaviour of materials and failure mechanisms of BSM mixes are long-term phenomena. This implies that the study of the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of the mixes with increasing amount of RA is vital. Therefore, fundamental understandings of moisture damage and thermo-physical characteristics, which are related to material properties, are required. The main objective of this study is to advance BSM technology by assessing the influence of the selected materials on durability behaviour, temperature distribution and long-term performance in all phases of application (i.e. mix design, construction, and in-service condition). This study begins with a comprehensive literature review of research dealing with the interactions between RA and mineral aggregates. The properties of RA and mineral aggregates were reviewed. This was followed by a review into the mechanical properties of BSM-foam mixes with high percentage of RA and its durability performance. Factors influencing the temperature gradient of BSMs were then identified. Achieving a better understanding of the fundamental performance properties and temperature influence on the behaviour of BSMs with high percentage of RA is one of the key factors of this research, with a view to using the extended knowledge for improvements to current mix design and structural design practices. Finally, the fundamental theories on thermo-conductivity and the mechanical properties of the BSM were used to create a relationship between temperature and mechanical properties in a pavement section. A laboratory testing programme was set up to study the properties and behaviour of BSMs and to establish links with the compositional factors, i.e. the type of binder used, the percentage of RA in the mix and the addition of a small amount of cement as active filler. BSMs were blended in three different proportions of RA and good quality crushed stone materials: 100% RA (with 2 % bitumen content), 50% RA and 50% G2 Hornfels crushed stone (with 2.1% bitumen content) and 100% G2 (with 2.3 % bitumen content). Tri-axial testing was carried out to determine shear parameters, resilient modulus and permanent deformation behaviour, while brushing testing was carried out to determine the possible durability performance of the BSMs. The mixture durability in terms of moisture damage was investigated. Temperature data were collected and a model to accurately simulate the temperature distribution in the BSMs was identified and proposed for further investigation and validation. It was found from the laboratory temperature data collected in this study that the temperature gradient varied according to the depth of the BSMs. A considerable part of the efforts of this study were dedicated to characterise and model the temperature distribution in a pavement section, taking into account the mechanical properties and performance of the BSMs at different temperature layers. The study provides an insight into fundamental mechanical performance, material durability properties, and the thermal capacity and conductivity of the BSM-foam mixes with high percentage of RA. This will assist in improving the current procedure for selection, combining and formulation of the mix matrices for BSMs. In addition, the study provides guidelines that will enable practitioners to confidently understand the relationship between temperature gradient and mechanical behaviours of BSM-foam pavement section. The specific durability-related issues addressed in this study are substance for future research.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die toenemende gebruik van herwonne asfalt (Engels: reclaimed asphalt (RA)) in bitumen gestabiliseerde materiaal (Engels: Bitumen Stabilised Materials (BSMs)), tekortkominge in die bestaande ontwerpriglyne- en handleidings en deurlopende verbeteringe in die konsepte en begrip van hierdie material vereis verdere navorsing oor die fundamentele eienskappe en gedrag van BSM. In die literatuurstudie word die huidige stand van kennis van die ontwerp van skuimbitumentegnieke ondersoek. Die literatuurstudie dek ook die huidige beste praktyke in die ontwerp van BSM en plaveisels wat hierdie materiale insluit. Tekortkominge en areas van verdere verbetering in die ontwerppraktyke is geïdentifiseer. Onlangse omgewingswetgewing verhoog die belangrikheid van BSM tegnologie, insluitend RA, as ‘n meer omgewingsvriendelike en volhoubare konstruksie-tegniek. Hierdie faktor sal in die toekoms al hoe belangriker word. Die verandering in die gedrag van materiaal en die falingsmeganismes van BSM mengsels is langtermynverskynsels. Dit impliseer dat die studie van die fisio-chemiese en meganiese eienskappe van mengsels met toenemende verhoudings van RA van kardinale belang is’n Fundamentele begrip van die vogskade en temo-fisiese eienskappe, wat verwant is aan die materiale se eienskappe, word vereis. Die primêre doelwit van die studie is die bevordering van BSM tegnologie deur die invloed van die geselekteerde materiale op duursaamheid, temperatuurverspreiding en langtermyn gedrag in al die fases van toepassing (mengselontwerp, konstruksie en in-dienstoestand) te bepaal. Die verhandeling begin met ‘n omvattende literatuuroorsig van navorsing oor die interaksie tussen RA en mineraalaggregate. Die eienskappe van RA en die mineraalaggregate word bespreek. Dit word gevolg deur ‘n oorsig van die meganiese eienskappe van die BSM-skuimbitumenmengsels met ‘n hoë persentasie RA en die duursaamheidgedrag daarvan. Faktore wat die temperatuurgradient van BSM beïnvloed word dan aangetoon. ‘n Beter begrip van die fundamentele gedragseienskappe en die invloed van temperatuur op die gedrag van BSM met ‘n hoë persentasie RA is een van die sleutelfaktore van hierdie navorsing. Dit het ten doel om die uitgebreide kennis te gebruik om huidige mengselontwerp en strukturele ontwerppraktyke te verbeter. Laastens is die fundamentele teorie van termogeleiding en die meganiese eienskappe van BSM gebruik om ‘n verhouding tussen temperature en meganiese eienskappe in ‘n plaveiselsnit te ontwikkel. ‘n Laboratoriumtoetsprogram is opgestel om die eienskappe en gedrag van BSM te bestudeer en om verwantskappe tussen samestellende faktore soos die tipe bindmiddel gebruik, die persentasie RA in die mengsel en die toediening van klein hoeveelhede sement as aktiewe vuller te bepaal. BSM is in drie verskillende verhoudings van RA en goeie gehalte gebreekte klipmateriaal vermeng: 100% RA met 2 % bitumen, 50% RA en 50 % G2 Hornfels gebreekte klip met 2.1 % bitumen en 100% G2 met 2.3 % bitumen. Drie-assige druktoetse is gebruik om skuifsterkteparameters, elastiese modulus en permanente vervormingsgedrag te bepaal. Borseltoetse is gebruik om die duursaamheidgedrag van BSM te bepaal. Die mengsels se duursaamheid is ook in terme van vogskade ondersoek.

This study presents results from non-destructive testing to evaluate the degradation of the CFRP-masonry bond using thermal imaging. The goal of the research was to identify locations where there was evidence of bond deterioration that could subsequently be verified through destructive pull-off testing. Four full-scale masonry walls were built outdoors at the University of South Florida in 1995 to evaluate the effectiveness of CFRP for repairing settlement damage. Two of the settlement-damaged walls were repaired using single layer, commercially available unidirectional CFRP systems that used Tonen (wall 3) and Henkel (wall 2) epoxies. These two walls were the subject of this investigation. Before non-destructive tests were initiated, historical site data on temperature, humidity and rainfall variation was compiled. Over seventeen years, the walls experienced ambient temperatures as high as 98°F and as low as 25°F. The average rainfall in Tampa is about 34 inches and the annual average high humidity is around 87%#37;. Because of the high temperature and humidity, the CFRP-masonry bond was exposed to a particularly aggressive environment. Three types of thermal evaluation were carried out: thermocouple monitoring and both passive (solar) and active (localized heating) infrared thermal imaging. Twenty-four thermocouples were used to observe the spatial variations in temperature on the wall. Data showed that the surface temperatures of the wall are uneven with one end being hotter than the other. Measurements indicated that the wall temperatures went as high as 103°F during the week of data collection in late March and early April of 2012. In contrast, the highest ambient temperature over the same period was 92°F. The high temperature experienced by the wall is below the glass transition temperature for the epoxies, which ranges from 140°F to 180°F. A FLIR Tau 320 thermal imaging camera was used to identify localized de-bonding. Solar radiation heated the walls and the goal of thermal imaging was to detect hot spots which are indicative of de-bonding. Although this technique is ideal for exterior applications, initial attempts were unsuccessful. Once de-bonds were located by sounding, the camera was capable of confirming two hot spots on wall 2. A thermal scanner built by the university from a series of ten Omega OS137 thermal sensors was used to obtain more complete thermal images of the walls. This scanner had a heating element which supplied heat and allowed for active thermography. The scanner detected 16 hot spots not seen with the thermal camera. Ten of the twelve spots on wall 2 are concentrated on a region of the wall which experienced the highest daily changes in temperature, which indicates that higher thermal and environmental cycling has caused greater de-bond. Based on the number of hot spots found using both active and passive thermography the Tonen epoxy is performing better than the Henkel epoxy. In general, the bond has endured; however, there are a few localized areas that have de-bonded. Pull-off tests are recommended on walls 2 and 3. Five locations in regions suspected to have poor bond and five locations in regions suspected to have good bond are identified for each wall.

Verfahren der digitalen Nahbereichsphotogrammetrie ermöglichen eine dreidimensionale Erfassung von Objekten und stellen damit interessante Lösungsansätze für Messaufgaben im Bautechnischen Mess- und Versuchswesen dar. Ihr Einsatz bietet bei einer Vielzahl baumechanischer Untersuchungen die Voraussetzung für eine kontinuierliche, zeitsynchrone Objektoberflächenerfassung bei kurz- und langzeitigen Belastungsversuchen im Labor und in situ. Die daraus resultierenden Möglichkeiten der kontinuierlichen Erfassung von Verformungs-, Riss- und Schädigungsentwicklungen an Objektoberflächen stellen für viele experimentelle Untersuchungen im Bauingenieurwesen eine signifikante Qualitätssteigerung dar, die mit klassischen Messtechniken – wie z. B. Dehnmessstreifen oder induktiven Wegaufnehmern – nur bedingt bzw. nicht realisiert werden kann. Um das Potential der digitalen Nahbereichsphotogrammetrie zur kontinuierlichen Erfassung der Verformungs-, Riss- und Schädigungsentwicklung an Objektoberflächen bei baumechanischen Untersuchungen erfassen zu können, wurden – aufbauend auf den bekannten Grundlagen und Lösungsansätzen – systematische Untersuchungen durchgeführt. Diese bildeten den Ausgangspunkt für den Einsatz photogrammetrischer Verfahren bei experimentellen Untersuchungen in den verschiedenen Teildisziplinen des Bauingenieurwesens, z. B. im Holz-, Massiv-, Mauerwerks-, Stahl- und Straßenbau. Die photogrammetrisch zu erfassenden Versuchsobjekte – einschließlich ihrer Veränderungen bei den Belastungsversuchen – waren dabei u. a. kleinformatige Prüfkörper und Baukonstruktionen aus den verschiedensten Materialien bzw. Verbundmaterialien. Bei den anwendungsorientierten Untersuchungen musste beachtet werden, dass aufgrund der z. T. sehr heterogenen Anforderungen und der zahlreichen Möglichkeiten, die beim Einsatz photogrammetrischer Verfahren denkbar waren, die Notwendigkeit der Auswahl und ggf. einer Weiter- bzw. Neuentwicklung geeigneter Systeme, effizienter Verfahren und optimaler Auswertealgorithmen der digitalen Nahbereichsphotogrammetrie bestand. In diesem Zusammenhang wurde mit der systematischen Zusammenstellung und Untersuchung relevanter Einflussgrößen begonnen. Diese waren oftmals durch die jeweiligen photogrammetrischen Messprozesse und Messaufgaben beeinflusst. Die Ergebnisse machen deutlich, dass die digitale Nahbereichsphotogrammetrie ein flexibel anwendbares Werkzeug für die Erfassung der Verformungs-, Riss- und Schädigungsentwicklung bei baumechanischen Untersuchungen darstellt. Spezielle Messaufgaben stellen im Bautechnischen Mess- und Versuchswesen oftmals sehr hohe Anforderungen an die Messgenauigkeit, die Robustheit und das Messvolumen. Sie erfordern optimierte Verfahren und führten im Zusammenhang mit der vorliegenden Arbeit zu einer Reihe von Lösungen, wie beispielsweise der 2.5D-Objekterfassung auf Basis der Dynamischen Projektiven Transformation oder der Objekterfassung mittels Spiegelphotogrammetrie. Im Hinblick auf die Objektsignalisierung wurde eine intensitätsbasierte Messmarke entwickelt. Diese ermöglicht besonders bei sehr hochgenauen Deformations- bzw. Dehnungsmessungen ein großes Genauigkeitspotential im Sub-Pixelbereich, das im 1/100 eines Pixels liegt. In Bezug auf die photogrammetrischen Auswerteprozesse wurden optimierte Bildzuordnungsverfahren implementiert, die beispielsweise eine Punkteinmessung von bis zu 60.000 Punkten pro Sekunde ermöglichen und eine Grundlage für die flächenhafte Rissanalyse darstellen. In Bezug auf die qualitative und quantitative Risserfassung wurden verschiedene Verfahren entwickelt. Diese ermöglichen z. B. die lastabhängige Erfassung der Rissposition und -breite in Messprofilen. In einem Messbereich von 100 mm x 100 mm konnten beispielsweise Verformungen mit einer Genauigkeit bis 1 µm und Rissbreiten ab 3 µm erfasst werden. Im Zusammenhang mit den zahlreichen anwendungsbezogenen Untersuchungen entstanden immer wieder Fragen hinsichtlich der Faktoren, die einen Einfluss auf den photogrammetrischen Messprozess im Bautechnischen Mess- und Versuchswesen ausüben. Aufgrund der zahlreichen Einflussgrößen, die als Steuer- bzw. Störgrößen eine mögliche Wirkung auf bauspezifische photogrammetrische Messprozesse ausüben können, wurde im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit mit deren systematischer Zusammenstellung relevanter Einflussgrößen begonnen. Die Relevanz einzelner Einflussgrößen konnte durch Untersuchungen bereits bestätigt werden. Um eine ganzheitliche Bewertung aller relevanten Einflussgrößen aufgabenabhängig vornehmen zu können, wurde ein spezieller Versuchsstand entwickelt. Dieser ermöglicht eine vollautomatisierte systematische Untersuchung bauspezifischer photogrammetrischer Messprozesse unter definierten Versuchsbedingungen und dient dem systematischen Einsatz photogrammetrischer Verfahren im Bautechnischen Mess- und Versuchswesen hinsichtlich der Absicherung bestehender Messaufgaben, kann aber auch zu weiteren neuen und optimierten Messprozessen führen
Methods of digital close range photogrammetry are a useful tool for the measurement of three-dimensional objects in civil engineering material testing. They are generally suitable for automatic measurements with chronological synchronism of object-surfaces during short and long time load tests in laboratories and in situ. The methods provide an opportunity for measuring deformations, cracks and damages at the object-surfaces during load tests in civil engineering material testing. These possibilities can present new results for a lot of applications in civil engineering material testing. Displacement and deformation measurements still rely on wire strain gauges or inductive displacement transducers. However, they are not suitable for a large number of measurement points or the detection of cracks during load tests. First of all, a number of systematic investigations was conducted. This was necessary to identify capable methods of the digital photogrammetry for the measuring of deformations, cracks and damages at object-surfaces during load tests in civil engineering material testing. These investigations laid the foundation for practical measurements during short and long time load tests of samples and constructions from different parts of the civil engineering (e.g. timber construction, solid structure, stell and road construction). The application-oriented research in civil engineering material testing demonstrates the wide range of demands on systems and methods of digital close range photogrammetry have to meet. Often the methods and systems of digital close range photogrammetry had to be modified or developed. In this context the systematic analysis of relevant determining factors was started.The results demonstrate that the methods and systems of digital close range photogrammetry are a suitable and flexible tool for the measurement of deformations, cracks and damages at the object-surfaces in civil engineering material testing. In addition, the special experiments in civil engineering material testing demonstrate the high requirements laid upon methods and systems of the digital closed range photogrammetry, for instance regarding with the measurement resolution/range and robustness processes. This was the motivation to optimize and to develop methods and systems for the special measurement tasks in civil engineering material testing, for instance a 2.5D measurement technique based on the Dynamic Projective Transformation (DPT) or the use of mirrors. Also a special measurement target was developed. This type of measurement target modifies intensities and is ideal for high deformation measurements (1/100 pixel). The large number of points in conjunction with area-based measurements require time-optimized methods for the analysis process. The modified and developed methods/programs enable fast analysis-processes, e.g. in conjunction with point-matching process 60.000 points per second.The developed crack-detection-methods allow area- and profile-based to analyze the load-dependent position and width of cracks, e.g. cracks > 3 µm (100 mm x 100 mm). A main target of this work was to compile all relevant determining factors regarding the application of the digital close range photogrammetry during load tests in civil engineering material testing. To a large extent, this target was reached. However, the compilation of all relevant determining factors requires a special experimental set-up. This experimental set-up was developed. In the future, it may enable the automatic research of all significant determining factors. The results can be used to qualify or optimize the established methods and processes. Also it's possible that the results generates new measurement processes

Verfahren der digitalen Nahbereichsphotogrammetrie ermöglichen eine dreidimensionale Erfassung von Objekten und stellen damit interessante Lösungsansätze für Messaufgaben im Bautechnischen Mess- und Versuchswesen dar. Ihr Einsatz bietet bei einer Vielzahl baumechanischer Untersuchungen die Voraussetzung für eine kontinuierliche, zeitsynchrone Objektoberflächenerfassung bei kurz- und langzeitigen Belastungsversuchen im Labor und in situ. Die daraus resultierenden Möglichkeiten der kontinuierlichen Erfassung von Verformungs-, Riss- und Schädigungsentwicklungen an Objektoberflächen stellen für viele experimentelle Untersuchungen im Bauingenieurwesen eine signifikante Qualitätssteigerung dar, die mit klassischen Messtechniken – wie z. B. Dehnmessstreifen oder induktiven Wegaufnehmern – nur bedingt bzw. nicht realisiert werden kann. Um das Potential der digitalen Nahbereichsphotogrammetrie zur kontinuierlichen Erfassung der Verformungs-, Riss- und Schädigungsentwicklung an Objektoberflächen bei baumechanischen Untersuchungen erfassen zu können, wurden – aufbauend auf den bekannten Grundlagen und Lösungsansätzen – systematische Untersuchungen durchgeführt. Diese bildeten den Ausgangspunkt für den Einsatz photogrammetrischer Verfahren bei experimentellen Untersuchungen in den verschiedenen Teildisziplinen des Bauingenieurwesens, z. B. im Holz-, Massiv-, Mauerwerks-, Stahl- und Straßenbau. Die photogrammetrisch zu erfassenden Versuchsobjekte – einschließlich ihrer Veränderungen bei den Belastungsversuchen – waren dabei u. a. kleinformatige Prüfkörper und Baukonstruktionen aus den verschiedensten Materialien bzw. Verbundmaterialien. Bei den anwendungsorientierten Untersuchungen musste beachtet werden, dass aufgrund der z. T. sehr heterogenen Anforderungen und der zahlreichen Möglichkeiten, die beim Einsatz photogrammetrischer Verfahren denkbar waren, die Notwendigkeit der Auswahl und ggf. einer Weiter- bzw. Neuentwicklung geeigneter Systeme, effizienter Verfahren und optimaler Auswertealgorithmen der digitalen Nahbereichsphotogrammetrie bestand. In diesem Zusammenhang wurde mit der systematischen Zusammenstellung und Untersuchung relevanter Einflussgrößen begonnen. Diese waren oftmals durch die jeweiligen photogrammetrischen Messprozesse und Messaufgaben beeinflusst. Die Ergebnisse machen deutlich, dass die digitale Nahbereichsphotogrammetrie ein flexibel anwendbares Werkzeug für die Erfassung der Verformungs-, Riss- und Schädigungsentwicklung bei baumechanischen Untersuchungen darstellt. Spezielle Messaufgaben stellen im Bautechnischen Mess- und Versuchswesen oftmals sehr hohe Anforderungen an die Messgenauigkeit, die Robustheit und das Messvolumen. Sie erfordern optimierte Verfahren und führten im Zusammenhang mit der vorliegenden Arbeit zu einer Reihe von Lösungen, wie beispielsweise der 2.5D-Objekterfassung auf Basis der Dynamischen Projektiven Transformation oder der Objekterfassung mittels Spiegelphotogrammetrie. Im Hinblick auf die Objektsignalisierung wurde eine intensitätsbasierte Messmarke entwickelt. Diese ermöglicht besonders bei sehr hochgenauen Deformations- bzw. Dehnungsmessungen ein großes Genauigkeitspotential im Sub-Pixelbereich, das im 1/100 eines Pixels liegt. In Bezug auf die photogrammetrischen Auswerteprozesse wurden optimierte Bildzuordnungsverfahren implementiert, die beispielsweise eine Punkteinmessung von bis zu 60.000 Punkten pro Sekunde ermöglichen und eine Grundlage für die flächenhafte Rissanalyse darstellen. In Bezug auf die qualitative und quantitative Risserfassung wurden verschiedene Verfahren entwickelt. Diese ermöglichen z. B. die lastabhängige Erfassung der Rissposition und -breite in Messprofilen. In einem Messbereich von 100 mm x 100 mm konnten beispielsweise Verformungen mit einer Genauigkeit bis 1 µm und Rissbreiten ab 3 µm erfasst werden. Im Zusammenhang mit den zahlreichen anwendungsbezogenen Untersuchungen entstanden immer wieder Fragen hinsichtlich der Faktoren, die einen Einfluss auf den photogrammetrischen Messprozess im Bautechnischen Mess- und Versuchswesen ausüben. Aufgrund der zahlreichen Einflussgrößen, die als Steuer- bzw. Störgrößen eine mögliche Wirkung auf bauspezifische photogrammetrische Messprozesse ausüben können, wurde im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit mit deren systematischer Zusammenstellung relevanter Einflussgrößen begonnen. Die Relevanz einzelner Einflussgrößen konnte durch Untersuchungen bereits bestätigt werden. Um eine ganzheitliche Bewertung aller relevanten Einflussgrößen aufgabenabhängig vornehmen zu können, wurde ein spezieller Versuchsstand entwickelt. Dieser ermöglicht eine vollautomatisierte systematische Untersuchung bauspezifischer photogrammetrischer Messprozesse unter definierten Versuchsbedingungen und dient dem systematischen Einsatz photogrammetrischer Verfahren im Bautechnischen Mess- und Versuchswesen hinsichtlich der Absicherung bestehender Messaufgaben, kann aber auch zu weiteren neuen und optimierten Messprozessen führen.
Methods of digital close range photogrammetry are a useful tool for the measurement of three-dimensional objects in civil engineering material testing. They are generally suitable for automatic measurements with chronological synchronism of object-surfaces during short and long time load tests in laboratories and in situ. The methods provide an opportunity for measuring deformations, cracks and damages at the object-surfaces during load tests in civil engineering material testing. These possibilities can present new results for a lot of applications in civil engineering material testing. Displacement and deformation measurements still rely on wire strain gauges or inductive displacement transducers. However, they are not suitable for a large number of measurement points or the detection of cracks during load tests. First of all, a number of systematic investigations was conducted. This was necessary to identify capable methods of the digital photogrammetry for the measuring of deformations, cracks and damages at object-surfaces during load tests in civil engineering material testing. These investigations laid the foundation for practical measurements during short and long time load tests of samples and constructions from different parts of the civil engineering (e.g. timber construction, solid structure, stell and road construction). The application-oriented research in civil engineering material testing demonstrates the wide range of demands on systems and methods of digital close range photogrammetry have to meet. Often the methods and systems of digital close range photogrammetry had to be modified or developed. In this context the systematic analysis of relevant determining factors was started.The results demonstrate that the methods and systems of digital close range photogrammetry are a suitable and flexible tool for the measurement of deformations, cracks and damages at the object-surfaces in civil engineering material testing. In addition, the special experiments in civil engineering material testing demonstrate the high requirements laid upon methods and systems of the digital closed range photogrammetry, for instance regarding with the measurement resolution/range and robustness processes. This was the motivation to optimize and to develop methods and systems for the special measurement tasks in civil engineering material testing, for instance a 2.5D measurement technique based on the Dynamic Projective Transformation (DPT) or the use of mirrors. Also a special measurement target was developed. This type of measurement target modifies intensities and is ideal for high deformation measurements (1/100 pixel). The large number of points in conjunction with area-based measurements require time-optimized methods for the analysis process. The modified and developed methods/programs enable fast analysis-processes, e.g. in conjunction with point-matching process 60.000 points per second.The developed crack-detection-methods allow area- and profile-based to analyze the load-dependent position and width of cracks, e.g. cracks > 3 µm (100 mm x 100 mm). A main target of this work was to compile all relevant determining factors regarding the application of the digital close range photogrammetry during load tests in civil engineering material testing. To a large extent, this target was reached. However, the compilation of all relevant determining factors requires a special experimental set-up. This experimental set-up was developed. In the future, it may enable the automatic research of all significant determining factors. The results can be used to qualify or optimize the established methods and processes. Also it's possible that the results generates new measurement processes.

Dans le secteur du génie civil, le renforcement structural et la réparation des ouvrages en béton par collage de polymère renforcé de fibres de carbone (PRFC) sont des techniques désormais répandues. Les performances et la durabilité du système de renforcement sont intrinsèquement liées à la qualité du collage entre le matériau composite et le béton. Or, en pratique, les conditions environnementales et les contraintes liées au chantier ne permettent pas d’assurer l’intégrité de ce collage, dont les propriétés évoluent par ailleurs dans le temps en raison des phénomènes de vieillissement. La vérification in-situ par une méthode non-destructive de l’état du collage est donc une étape importante pour garantir les propriétés d'usage tout au long de la vie du renforcement.Une méthode d’évaluation non-destructive est développée dans le cadre de cette étude. Elle s’inspire de l’essai standard d’arrachement en traction directe bien connu sur le terrain. La méthode repose sur un essai mécanique qui caractérise le comportement en charge – déplacement de l’assemblage, et permet d’exprimer un critère d’évaluation appelé raideur d’assemblage qui dépend notamment du module d’Young de l’adhésif utilisé.La faisabilité en laboratoire de cette méthode est vérifiée sur un dispositif d’essai entièrement conçu pour les fins de l’étude. Un travail d’analyse et de dimensionnement basé sur une modélisation numérique par éléments finis permet de sélectionner des capteurs et une chaîne d’acquisition adaptés. Une formulation analytique partielle de la raideur d’assemblage est énoncée.Une campagne expérimentale sur des éprouvettes de béton renforcées par lamelles de PRFC avec trois adhésifs époxy différents est ensuite mise en œuvre. Les résultats sont interprétés en suivant une approche statistique qui prend en compte les variations de tous les paramètres d’influence. Les performances de détection de l’essai dans le cadre de notre application en laboratoire peuvent ainsi être exprimées.Des éléments contribuant à l’élaboration d’une méthodologie d’essai applicable in-situ sont enfin apportés, et les performances de l’essai sont rediscutées en vue de cette transposition sur le terrain
Over the last 30 years, repairing and strengthening techniques of concrete structures using externally bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites have gained much popularity and are now widespread. The effectiveness of the strengthening systems highly depends on the level of adhesion between the composite material and the concrete surface. Therefore, on-site evaluation of the bond quality is crucial to assess the performance and predict the durability of the reinforcement system.It is proposed to determine the bond properties of the adhesive layer within the reinforcement system by using a nondestructive test (NDT) method derived from the standard and well-known pull-off test. This method consists in analyzing the linear load vs displacement behavior of the adhesive joint, in order to determine an assembly stiffness which can be related to the Young’s modulus of the adhesive layer.In order to investigate the feasibility of the test method, a laboratory implementation is carried out on a mechanical device fully designed for the purpose of the present study. Suitable displacement sensors and an appropriate measurement chain are chosen based on a finite element modeling and a mechanical analysis of the test. A partial analytical form of the assembly stiffness is also expressed.The test method is then applied to concrete slabs reinforced with CFRP plates using three different epoxy adhesives. A statistical assessment of all identified parameters of influence sheds light on the results. In the end, the performances of the test performed in laboratory conditions are discussed.Finally, foundations for a relevant test methodology on real field conditions are laid, and the above-mentioned performances are reviewed

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Flexible pavement designers have a choice of two wearing course: either asphalt concrete or surfacing seals. The latter have been widely used by several countries as their preferred wearing course over other methods, especially countries with a limited number of average inhabitants per square kilometre. Moreover, the surfacing seals were identified as an efficient cost effective road preventive maintenance technique. Surfacing seals in New Zealand, South Africa and Australia cover about 65%, 80% and 90% of their surfaced road networks respectively. The preference of surfacing seals is due to their competitive initial cost and ease of construction. In South Africa, the life expectancy of surfacing seals varies between 8 and 12 years with an average of 10 years. This has not been the case in a number of surfacing seals constructed in winter, especially when the night recorded temperature is below 10oC. The dominant failure mechanism is ravelling (chip loss) soon after construction due to traffic loading. This chip loss is linked to the poor adhesion bond development rate in the bitumen-aggregate system during winter adverse conditions. In order to address the issue of premature chip loss the need for the development of a robust adhesion test method was identified. For that purpose, recently, researchers in the bitumen industry developed the Bitumen Bond Strength test method. This method was used in this study. This study intends to contribute to the understanding of binder-aggregate adhesion bond development for winter surfacing seals using the BBS test. Binder type, precoat type and conditioning, aggregate type and curing time are amongst the factors influencing winter seals adhesion bond performance. An experimental matrix involving three types of binder, two types of aggregate, four different precoating fluids, two precoat conditionings and two binder-curing times were then developed and investigated. Winter weather parameters affecting adhesion properties were also taken into consideration during the course of the investigation. Throughout the test, the procedure described in AASHTO TP 91-11 was followed. However, in order to enhance the control of the binder application temperature, a new method for hot applied binder sample preparation was developed as part of this study. The findings show that there is a significant difference between adhesion properties of the hot applied binders (70/100 and S-E1) and the emulsion (SC-E1). In most of the cases, the hot applied binders performed better than the emulsion. The failure mode observed was found to be linked to the condition of the precoating. The influence of the precoat type and conditioning, and effect of binder curing time were significantly highlighted. The use of a dry precoat benefited the adhesion bond strength up to around 50% relatively to the corresponding non-precoated combination. However, a decrement in the bond strength due to precoating of up to 28.7% was also observed. A statistical analysis using ANOVA did not illustrate any statistical significant effect of the aggregate type. The interaction effects analysis using ANOVA revealed the aggregate type interacting with precoat type to be the most influential interaction at level two. The precoat conditioning implication to the adhesion development rate, which influences the time for opening to traffic after construction, was illustrated. Insightful aspects on the compatibility between the binder type and precoat type and conditioning during the aggregate precoating practices and on the time for opening to traffic are highlighted. Finally, the repeatability analysis proved the BBS test to be a repeatable testing method with caution. Recommendations for further studies that could support the conclusions drawn in this study were provided.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Buigbare plaveiselontwerpers het 'n keuse van twee deklae: óf Asfalt of oppervlak seëls. Laasgenoemde word algemeen gebruik deur verskeie lande as hul voorkeur deklaag, veral die lande met beperkte aantal gemiddelde inwoners per vierkante kilometer. Verder, is die seëls geïdentifiseer as 'n doeltreffende koste-effektiewe deklaag tegniek. Oppervlakseëls in Nieu-Seeland, Suid-Afrika en Australië dek ongeveer 65%, 80% en 90% van hul padnetwerke onderskeidelik. Die seëls se voorkeur is te danke aan hul mededingende aanvanklike koste en eenvoudige vorm van die konstruksie. In Suid-Afrika wissel die seël se lewensverwagting tussen 8 en 12 jaar met 'n gemiddeld van 10 jaar. Dit is egter nie die geval van 'n aantal seëls wat in die winter gebou word nie, veral wanneer die aangetekende nagtemperatuur onder 10o C daal nie. Die dominante swigtingsmeganisme is stroping (klipverlies) kort na konstruksie. Hierdie klipverlies is gekoppel aan die power kleef-ontwikkeling van bitumen gedurende die winter. Ten einde die probleem van voortydige klipverlies aan te spreek het die behoefte vir die ontwikkeling van 'n robuuste toetsmetode ontstaan. Om hierdie rede het navorsers onlangs in die bitumenbedryf die “BBS toetsmetode” ontwikkel en is dié toetsmetode in hierdie studie gebruik. Hierdie studie beoog om by te dra tot die begrip van bindmiddel-klip kleefontwikkeling vir die winter seëls dmv die BBS toets. Die faktore, insluitend maar nie beperk tot bindmiddeltipe, voorafdekking (“PRECOAT”) -tipe en kondisionering, aggregaattipe en kuurtyd beïnvloed winter seëls se kleefeienskappe. 'n Eksperimentele matriks met drie tipes bindmiddels, twee tipes aggregate, vier verskillende voorafdekking-vloeistowwe, twee voorafdekking kondisionering en twee bindmiddel kuurtye is toe ontwikkel en ondersoek. Winter weer parameters wat kleefeienskappe beïnvloed is ook in ag geneem tydens die verloop van die ondersoek. Regdeur die studie is die prosedure AASHTO TP 91-11 gevolg, maar ten einde die beheer van die bindmiddel spuittemperatuur te verbeter, is ‘n nuwe metode vir warmspuit-bindmonsters voorbereiding ontwikkel as deel van hierdie studie. Die bevindinge toon dat daar 'n beduidende verskil tussen die kleefeienskappe van die warm aangewende bindmiddels (70/100 en S-E1) en die emulsie (SC-E1) is. In die meeste van die gevalle het die warmspuit-bindmiddels beter as emulsie gevaar. Daar is gevind dat die swigtingsmeganisme verbind word met die toestand van die voorafdekking. Die invloed van voorafdekkingtipe, kondisionering, en die effek van bindmiddelkuurtyd is duidelik uitgelig. Die gebruik van droë voorafdekking het die kleefkrag tot sowat 50% verhoog relatief tot die ooreenstemmende onbedekte klipkombinasie. Daar is egter ook ‘n verlaging van die kleefkrag weens voorafdekking gevind van tot so hoog soos 28,7 persent. Die statistiese ontleding met behulp van ANOVA het geen statisties beduidende effek van die verksillende aggregaattipe te vore gebring nie. Die interaksie-effek analise, met behulp van ANOVA, het wel die interaksie met voorafdekkingtipe met aggregaat die mees invloedryke bevestig. Die voorafdekking kondisioneering het ver rykende kleefkrag implikasies bloot gelê, wat die tyd vir die opening van die verkeer na konstruksie beïnvloed. Insigwekkende aspekte oor die versoenbaarheid tussen die bindmiddeltipe, voorafdekkingtipe, kondisionering, voorafdekkingpraktyk en tyd tot opening vir verkeer word uitgelig. Ten slotte, die herhaalbaarheidsanalise het die BBS toets as 'n herhaalbare toetsmetode met omsigtigheid bewys. Daar is aanbevelings tot verdere studies, wat uit die gevolgtrekking gekom het, gemaak.

Capes
Bem estabelecido e amplamente utilizado nas indústrias de polímeros e cerâmicas, o processo de extrusão vem sendo também explorado pela indústria de concreto. Embora a indústria de pré fabricados estruturais de concreto utilize superplastificantes, ainda não existem ensaios específicos para caracterizar o comportamento no estado fresco de concretos utilizados para extrusão. Foi observado que, mesmo em empresas de grande porte, a avaliação consiste no ensaio de abatimento em tronco de cone e na experiência intuitiva de um funcionário ao manipular o concreto com uma pá manual. No entanto o lançamento do concreto nos moldes é realizado por máquinas extrusoras que possuem maior força e constância na aplicação. Assim, a extrudabilidade do concreto é baseada no ensaio de “slump test” e na avaliação pessoal do operador, sendo confirmado num lote piloto no próprio processo industrial. Este trabalho teve como base o processo de fabricação de telhas extrudadas autoportantes. Visando simular algumas condições do processo de produção, foi realizada uma adaptação do ensaio da caixa-L, no qual foi inserido um vibrador de mangote no reservatório da caixa. O ensaio consistiu em avaliar o comportamento do concreto ao ser inserido no reservatório da caixa-L e logo após a abertura da comporta, com e sem vibração prévia do concreto no reservatório, para assim melhor definir um procedimento de ensaio. Para uma análise reológica foi proposta a realização de ensaio de squeeze-flow, realizado com argamassa e concreto da dosagem de concreto para extrusão. Foram utilizadas as mesmas configurações do ensaio utilizado para a argamassa: máquina de ensaio do tipo universal, célula de carga de 2000 N, prato superior e amostra, ambos com 10 cm de diâmetro, deformação livre, e com o diâmetro do punção igual ao diâmetro da amostra. Ensaios para adaptação da altura da amostra (5 cm) foram realizados de modo a evitar que ao invés de se deformar por cisalhamento ocorresse a compressão simples da brita. Foi realizada caracterização das matérias primas e testes de compactação, que determinaram a melhor proporção entre a areia fina natural, areia artificial e brita nas seguintes proporções: 25%: 25%: 50% e 0%: 50%: 50%, em massa. Para cada uma destas proporções, foram determinadas composições para o concreto com valores de “m” variando de 4,0, 4,5 e 5,0, que reduzem a quantidade de cimento em até 16%. Utilizou- se aditivo superplastificante de 3a geração à base de Policarboxilato. Para definir os teores de aditivo, foi realizado ensaio de slump test, referência na indústria para escolha de composição, definindo assim as 16 composições para estudo. A realização do ensaio possibilitou criar uma metodologia para verificar o comportamento do concreto sobre vibração, fornecendo informações tais como: aparência, coesão, tixotropia e o perfil do fluxo. Isso pode permitir realizar ajustes reais de trabalhabilidade do concreto com base nas características do processo de produção e perfil da peça extrudada. A análise reológica verificou que as condições de fluxo sofridas pela argamassa não são mantidas para o concreto, principalmente quanto à coesão e aderência. Outros fatores também foram observados, como a segregação, exsudação e comportamento ao longo do tempo. Os resultados mostram que ocorrem diferenças significativas, sendo que algumas características apresentadas na argamassa não se reproduzem no concreto. Ensaios de resistência mecânica à compressão mostraram que todas as composições atendem ao valor mínimo previsto em norma e quanto à trabalhabilidade observou-se que as composições somente com areia artificial apresentaram falta de coesão, perceptível no ensaio de slump test. Definiu-se o ensaio de caixa-L adaptado com vibração prévia como melhor procedimento de ensaio. Os resultados mostraram que mesmo composições com abatimento nulo, que seriam descartadas pela indústria, apresentaram trabalhabilidade e fluíram com vibração, sendo que os teores de aditivo influenciaram no perfil e no tempo do escoamento.
A well established and widely used in the industries of ceramics and polymers, the extrusion process has been also explored by the concrete industry. Although the industry of prefabricated structural concrete using superplasticizers, there are still no specific tests to characterize the behavior in the fresh concrete used for extrusion. Although the industry prefabricated concrete structural use superplasticizers, there're not no specific tests to characterize the behavior of the fresh concrete used for extrusion. It was observed that, even in large companies, the evaluation consists of the slump test in truncated cone and the intuitive experience of an employee to handle the concrete with a shovel manual. However the concrete cast in molds is done by extruding machines that have greater strength and consistency in application. Thus extrudability of concrete is based on the testing of "slump test" and the personal evaluation of the operator, being confirmed in a pilot batch in industrial process itself. This work was based on the manufacturing process of extruded tiles freestanding. Aiming to simulate some of the conditions of the production process, there was an adaptation of the test box-L, which was inserted in the reservoir hose vibrator housing. The test consisted in assessing the behavior of the concrete to be inserted into the reservoir from the L-box and immediately after opening the gate, with and without prior vibration of concrete in the tank, so as to better define a test procedure. For a rheological analysis was proposed to carry out squeeze flow test conducted with concrete mortar and concrete strength for extrusion. We used the same settings as used for the test mortar testing machine universal type, load cell 2000 N, and sample top plate, both 10 cm in diameter, free deformation, and the punch diameter equal to the diameter sample. Assays for adjusting the height of the sample (5 cm) were made in order to avoid that instead of being deformed by the compressive shear occur in the gravel. Was performed characterization of raw materials and compression testing which determined the best ratio between the fine sand natural, artificial sand and gravel in the following proportions: 25%: 25%: 50% to 0%: 50%: 50% by mass. For each of these ratios were determined for concrete compositions with values of "m" ranging from 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0, which reduces the amount of cement up to 16%. We used superplasticizer 3rd generation based Polycarboxylate. To set the content of admixture slump test was performed test, the industry benchmark for the choice of composition, thereby setting the 16 estudo.Para compositions for each of these ratios were determined for concrete compositions with values of "m" varying from 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0, which reduces the amount of cement up to 16%. We used superplasticizer 3rd generation based Polycarboxylate. The main test possible to create a methodology to assess the behavior of concrete on vibration, providing information such as: appearance, cohesion, thixotropy and flow profile. This can make adjustments allow real concrete workability based on the characteristics of the production process and extruded profile part. The rheological analysis verified that the flow conditions experienced by the cement is not retained in the concrete, especially in regard to cohesion and adhesion. Other factors were also observed, such as segregation, exudation and behavior over time. The results show that significant differences occur, and some features disclosed in the mortar on the concrete not reproduced. Testing of mechanical strength showed that all compositions meet the minimum standards set out in and about the workability was observed that the compositions only with artificial sand showed a lack of cohesion noticeable slump test. Set up the test L-box pre adapted as best vibration test procedure. The results showed that even compositions with zero rebate which would be discarded by the industry had flowed workability and vibration, and the admixture levels and influence the time profile of the flow.

A construção de linhas de transmissão são obras de grande impacto ambiental e requerem grandes investimentos financeiros. Este projeto de pesquisa, visa por meio de ensaios de laboratório, conceber uma ferramenta sistêmica para o aperfeiçoamento do método de determinação da fluência em cabos condutores de energia e OPGW (Optical Ground Wire), que tem sido utilizada no Brasil durante os últimos 30 anos, e analisar os efeitos na construção das linhas aéreas de transmissão. Visa também, proporcionar ganhos de confiabilidade ao sistema de transmissão de energia elétrica, pois o projeto, a construção, a operação e a manutenção de linhas de transmissão dependem de parâmetros de desempenho mecânico dos condutores. Conclui–se que a metodologia de ensaio proposta proporciona resultados finais mais confiáveis quando comparado com o atual procedimento normatizado, utilizado no Brasil, e sua utilização em projetos de linhas aéreas de transmissão de energia podem reduzir custos de construção, aumentar a ampacidade das linhas já existentes, bem como, diminuir os riscos ao a que pessoas estão sujeitas quando expostas a campos elétricos e eletromagnéticos gerados por linhas de transmissão.
Overhead Transmission Line construction projects have a great environmental impact and require a large financial investment. This research aims, through laboratory tests, to improve the method of determining the creep of power cables and OPGW (Optical Ground Wire) that has been utilized in Brazil for the last thirty years, as well as analyze the effects on the construction of overhead transmission lines. It will provide greater reliability to the overhead transmission line system, since the design, construction, operation and maintenance of transmission lines depend on the mechanical performance of the conductors. In conclusion, the proposed methodology provides more reliable final results compared to the current standardized procedure and its use in overhead transmission line projects could reduce construction costs, increase the ampacity, as well as reduce the risks to which people are subject when exposed to electric and electromagnetic fields generated by power lines.

In this thesis, seven techniques namely; rational fractional polynomial, complex exponential, frequency domain decomposition (FDD) based techniques which include; frequency domain decomposition (FDD), enhanced frequency domain decomposition (EFDD), curve fitting frequency domain decomposition (CFDD) and stochastic subspace identification (SSI) methods namely; unweighted principal component (UPC), principal component (PC) and canonical variant analysis (CVA)) have been applied to data from ambient vibration testing of two concrete dams namely; Roode Elsberg and Kouga dams.

Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2015.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 71-76).
This thesis explores the design, fabrication, and performance of digital materials in aerospace structures in three areas: (1) a morphing wing design that adjusts its form to respond to different behavioral requirements; (2) an automated assembly method for truss column structures; and (3) an analysis of the payload and structural performance requirements of space structure elements made from digital materials. Aerospace structures are among the most difficult to design, engineer, and manufacture. Digital materials are discrete building block parts, reversibly joined, with a discrete set of positions and orientations. Aerospace structures built from digital materials have high performance characteristics that can surpass current technology, while also offering potential for analysis simplification and assembly automation. First, this thesis presents a novel approach for the design, analysis, and manufacturing of composite aerostructures through the use of digital materials. This approach can be used to create morphing wing structures with customizable structural properties, and the simplified composite fabrication strategy results in rapid manufacturing time with future potential for automation. The presented approach combines aircraft structure with morphing technology to accomplish tuned global deformation with a single degree of freedom actuator. Guidelines are proposed to design a digital material morphing wing, a prototype is manufactured and assembled, and preliminary experimental wind tunnel testing is conducted. Seconds, automatic deployment of structures has been a focus of much academic and industrial work on infrastructure applications and robotics in general. This thesis presents a robotic truss assembler designed for space applications - the Space Robot Universal Truss System (SpRoUTS) - that reversibly assembles a truss column from a feedstock of flat-packed components, by folding the sides of each component up and locking onto the assembled structure. The thesis describes the design and implementation of the robot and shows that an assembled truss compares favorably with prior truss deployment systems. Thirds, space structures are limited by launch shroud mass and volume constraints. Digital material space structures can be reversibly assembled on orbit by autonomous relative robots using discrete, incremental parts. This will enable the on-orbit assembly of larger space structures than currently possible. The engineering of these structures, from macro scale to discrete part scale, is presented. Comparison with traditional structural elements is shown and favorable mechanical performance as well as the ability to efficiently transport the material in a medium to heavy launch vehicle. In summary, this thesis contributes the methodology and evaluation of novel applications of digital materials in aerospace structures.
by Benjamin Jenett.
S.M.

Static and dynamic behavior of the dry and saturated Ottawa sand are studied in the constitutive modeling laboratory, by using cubical multiaxial device with servo-controlled loading system and high speed automatic data acquisition system. In this investigation, the multiaxial cubical device with servo-controlled loading system and high speed automatic data acquisition system is used to apply independently the three-dimensional loading and measure corresponding strains and stress. The cubical multiaxial device is modified to include the servo-controlled pressure system and automatic data acquisition system. To understand the cyclic behavior and post cyclic behavior, comprehensive laboratory tests have been performed on the dry and saturated Ottawa sand, covering a number of relative densities and confinements.

Large-scale testing of low-rise buildings or components of tall buildings is essential as it provides more representative information about the realistic wind effects than the typical small scale studies, but as the model size increases, relatively less large-scale turbulence in the upcoming flow can be generated. This results in a turbulence power spectrum lacking low-frequency turbulence content. This deficiency is known to have significant effects on the estimated peak wind loads. To overcome these limitations, the method of Partial Turbulence Simulation (PTS) has been developed recently in the FIU Wall of Wind lab to analytically compensate for the effects of the missing low-frequency content of the spectrum. This method requires post-test analysis procedures and is based on the quasi-steady assumptions. The current study was an effort to enhance that technique by investigating the effect of scaling and the range of applicability of the method by considering the limitations risen from the underlying theory, and to simplify the 2DPTS (includes both in-plane components of the turbulence) by proposing a weighted average method. Investigating the effect of Reynolds number on peak aerodynamic pressures was another objective of the study. The results from five tested building models show as the model size was increased, PTS results showed a better agreement with the available field data from TTU building. Although for the smaller models (i.e., 1:100,1:50) almost a full range of turbulence spectrum was present, the highest peaks observed at full-scale were not reproduced, which apparently was because of the Reynolds number effect. The most accurate results were obtained when the PTS was used in the case with highest Reynolds number, which was the1:6 scale model with a less than 5% blockage and a xLum/bm ratio of 0.78. Besides that, the results showed that the weighted average PTS method can be used in lieu of the 2DPTS approach. So to achieve the most accurate results, a large-scale test followed by a PTS peak estimation method deemed to be the desirable approach which also allows the xLum/bm values much smaller than the ASCE recommended numbers.