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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Structural Design Of Hollow Extruded Wpc Sheet Piling, Melissa Kahl Jan 2006

Structural Design Of Hollow Extruded Wpc Sheet Piling, Melissa Kahl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In marine environments, materials are exposed to a number of harsh environmental factors. Traditional retaining wall materials experience severe degradation as a response to these factors. To address these degradation issues, wood plastic composite (WPC) materials can be used in marine sheet pile applications. WPC materials are both lightweight and durable. This research focuses on developing a sheet pile design that utilizes the material benefits of extruded wood plastic composites with a voided z section sheet pile geometry. The objectives are to develop a more efficient structural design in terms of both material and geometry as compared to the polyvinylchloride …


Structural Testing And Analysis Of Hybrid Composite/Metal Joints For High-Speed Marine Structures, Jean Paul Kabche Jan 2006

Structural Testing And Analysis Of Hybrid Composite/Metal Joints For High-Speed Marine Structures, Jean Paul Kabche

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The implementation of composite materials in engineering applications has observed a rapid increase over the last few decades. The U.S. Navy currently has an objective to enhance its future naval capabilities by developing hull-forms with advanced materials, including composites. Speed can be increased by reduction in weight and by incorporating innovative shaping of the hull-form, which can potentially be achieved with composites. Any naval vessel using composite materials for structural components will require hybrid connections of some sort, where composite sections are joined to metallic sub-structures. Joints are critical regions in the design of hybrid systems, as failures typically occur …


Fatigue And Fracture Of The Frp-Wood Interface: Experimental Characterization And Performance Limits, Yong Hong Jan 2003

Fatigue And Fracture Of The Frp-Wood Interface: Experimental Characterization And Performance Limits, Yong Hong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A performance-based material evaluation methodology was developed to qualify FRP composite reinforcement bonded to glulam structural members for highway bridge applications. The objectives of this thesis are: a) to implement and correlate two methods to evaluate the fatigue and fracture performance of FRP-wood interfaces with associated performance limits; and b) to provide data and recommendations necessary to develop performance-based material specifications. The first method is based on evaluating the apparent shear strength in a single-lap shear test by fatigue tension loading. The second method is based on evaluating the interface fracture toughness in Mode I or opening-mode using fracture mechanics. …


Analysis And Structural Health Monitoring Of Composite Plates With Piezoelectric Sensors And Actuators, Richard C. Mewer Jan 2003

Analysis And Structural Health Monitoring Of Composite Plates With Piezoelectric Sensors And Actuators, Richard C. Mewer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Structural vibration suppression and health-monitoring have been the focus of intense research over the past decade, and piezoelectric actuators and sensors are particularly well suited to serve in this application. The first part is an analytical investigation into the cylindrical bending vibrations of piezoelectric composite plates. The second part is a fully experimental investigation into various vibration based structural health-monitoring techniques for bolted composites. The analytical solution consists of Fourier basis functions that satisfy the equations of motion and charge equation. The accuracy of the mechanical displacements, electric potential, and stresses are dependent on the number of terms in the …


Effects Of Strand Geometry On Selected Properties Of Long-Stand Structural Composite Lumber Made From Northeastern Hardwoods, Russell Edgar Jan 2003

Effects Of Strand Geometry On Selected Properties Of Long-Stand Structural Composite Lumber Made From Northeastern Hardwoods, Russell Edgar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Structural composite lumber (SCL) products often possess significantly higher design values than the top grades of solid lumber, making it a popular choice for both residential and commercial applications. The enhanced mechanical properties of SCL are mainly due to defect randomization and densification of the wood fiber, both largely functions of the size, shape and composition (species) of the wood element. Traditionally, SCL manufacturers have used thin, rectangular elements produced from either moderate density softwoods or low density hardwoods. Higher density hardwood species have been avoided, as they require higher pressures to adequately densify and consolidate the wood furnish. These …


Evaluating The Durability Of Wood/Frp Bonds Through Chemical Kinetics Using A Range Of Mechanical Test Methods, Jonathan Philip Alexander Jan 2000

Evaluating The Durability Of Wood/Frp Bonds Through Chemical Kinetics Using A Range Of Mechanical Test Methods, Jonathan Philip Alexander

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hybrid composites of wood and fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) exhibit a flexibility of design properties through choices in fiber type, amount, orientation and resin type. With this flexibility comes the need to measure the durability of the composite material system, especially the bond between these two materials due to their markedly different responses to moisture. This study is two-fold; the first section examines methods for the mechanical testing and durability of wood/FRP laminations. Six mechanical tests were evaluated and a modified block shear method was identified as the most suitable due to its ability to provide representative results independent of …